Sunday, April 15, 2018

Old School! Scotch & Water

When I started drinking Scotch, I only liked what was smooth and generally sweet.  Blends were the order of the day with a couple of ice cubes.  Chivas, Famous Grouse, John Parr, Hankey Bannister and others.  I couldn't fathom  drinking Scotch with water in a ratio of 50/50 or something close to it.  My melted ice was all the dilution I wanted.  Anymore was a waste.  I had seen it in movies from the 1940's and it baffled me.  Scotch and that much water?  I tried it then and thought it was terrible.

Pictured above is Humphrey Bogart on the set of The African Queen.  A film shot in the African Congo where nearly everyone on the set got sick except for Bogie and  director John Huston.  Bogart explained their good fortune this way:

"All I ate was baked beans, canned asparagus and Scotch whisky. Whenever a fly bit Huston or me, it dropped dead."

In countless films from the 1940's Bogie is invariably in some night club or dinner club where the leading lady sings and then joins him for a drink:  Scotch and water (sometimes Scotch and soda) in a highball glass.  I was baffled how they could down that stuff.











I have read a few biographies of Winston Churchill and one of them stated Mr. Churchill liked to start his morning with a splash of Johnnie Walker Red, a tiny amount and then fill a tall glass with water.  He would sip it all day.  Humphrey and Winston were no poster boys for drinking in moderation and I am not suggesting to follow their example whatsoever, but both seemed to be adherents to Scotch and water, like many people of their time.  This evening, I chose to also heed the words of Winston from his time spent in India:

"The water was not fit to drink.  To make it palatable, we had to add whisky. By diligent effort I learned to like it."

Well, I am not in 1890's India, and I suppose my tap water is potable, but I am going to mix my water with whisky and see what happens.

I had a heel of Johnnie Walker Red sitting on a shelf that looked forlorn amongst all the tall and distinguished single malt bottles and pricier blends.  

I poured 50/50 water and Johnnie Red plus a couple ice cubes.  Let it set a moment and took a sip.

It wasn't bad.  Not great, but what I enjoyed was the cloyingly sweet notes of the Red Label was gone.  Now, it was not sweet, but rather an evergreen or spearmint bitterness that reeled me in for more sips.  The flavour was not bad.  I was doing paper work for an commerce venture that is the reason I have not been posting lately, and I found this drink was a nice companion.  Not needy like a high school girlfriend, but just a pal hanging out.

I must say that as I get older my tastes in whisky have evolved which may be contributing to my new found enjoyment of the occasional whisky and water.  I no longer value sweetness and smoothness in a whisky.  The water added to a cheap blend will take away the sweetness or other overpowering qualities and replace with a softer and even aromatic flavour profile.  I am liking this!  Maybe Bogie and Churchill had it right or maybe I am turning into an old man like them.

Cheers!


Jason Debly

14 comments:

  1. Similar to your experiment here, Laphroiag Cask Strength recommends on the label (or tag) twice as much water as whisky. A little research suggests that one may want to do this for "nosing" purposes. I recommend doing it for "turning your favorite whisky into your least favorite whisky" purposes. It was gross and I remain perplexed by their recommendation.

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    1. Twice as much water for a cask strength whisky seems excessive and may have more to do with legal liability than the taste experience.

      What I mean is cask strength whisky often 50% plus consumed straight may present a higher risk of alcohol poisoning and for that reason the excessive water recommendation would mitigate that risk or claim against the producer.

      With single malts, I like to add a teaspoon max for most but not all. Some are best neat.

      With cheap whisky, 50/50 is fun.

      Thanks for commenting!

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  2. I might have to try it.... Next time I'm in the shop I'll grab a 50ml sample bottle. No way am I shelling out for a big bottle ha ha !!!...

    AL

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  3. Lyndon Johnson’s favourite drink was whisky and soda. I just don’t think he liked whisky.

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    1. Ha! Check out this article that details Lyndon Johnson's drinking habits:

      https://scotchwhisky.com/magazine/features/11595/scotch-loving-us-presidents/

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  4. As an Indian, the water situation has improved a bit (but you still can't drink if straight from the tap), but one thing hasn't changed - the heat. It is impossible to enjoy Scotch neat when the temperature is between 40 to 48 degrees Celsius for 10 months out of the year.

    I have the single malts during the colder months - December and January. For the rest of the year, I stick to cheap blends - adding ice and soda or cold water. It's very refreshing drink on a muggy evening!

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    1. I have not had the pleasure of visiting India, but I have been to Jamaica and other very warm climes, and like you don't drink single malt in those hot temperatures. Lots of ice, and scotch and if a cheap blend, why not toss in some soda too. Spain is a country where I think Cutty Sark and soda has almost universal appeal and one can see why when the mercury rises.

      Thanks for your insight!

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  5. My friends dad always drank Dewars and water. That 1.75 liter jug of Dewars was a mainstay at their house. Always thought I would hate it so I never gave it a chance haha.

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    1. Give it a chance with any old blended whisky you dont much like. The water helps!

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  7. I totally agree with Sam. Im from India and my best way of enjoying whisky when I don't want to be bothered about which brand to drink, is to find some cheap scotch, add equal measure water and soda and load on the ice. Very refreshing in summers.

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  8. Hi Jason, I enjoy the blog more than the youtube videos (and I really like them). I am starting my own blog on spirits and wine. Scotch and soda water is my favorite summer time drink. 2:1 or 3:1 water to whisky, in a pint glass, filled with ice. Wonderful after mowing the lawn. I am doing some at home research for the best all round budget blend. I am sampling Red label, Dewars white label, teachers, white horse and black and white to find my go to for neat, on the rocks, and mixed drinks. That is going to be the content for my first couple blog posts. Thanks for the inspiration.

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    1. I look forward to your posts! I like the name of your site too! Both seem to be in short supply lately!

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