What is a whiskey on the rocks?
Come fare un whisky on the rocks
Whiskey with ice (on the rocks) is one of the simplest drinks you can make. All you need is:
- Whiskey
- Large ice cubes or a scoop of ice
- Whiskey glass (also known as an old-fashioned glass, rock glass, or lowball glass)
To make whiskey with ice you will need to:
- Put the ice in the glass
- Pour in 40-60 ml of whiskey
- Wait a moment for the whiskey to interact with the ice, then consume it
We recommend using large ice cubes so that they melt more slowly.
This gives you more time to enjoy yours whiskey before the ice melts and excessively dilutes the flavor of the distillate.
Where does the term “on the rocks” come from?
Some whiskey purists believe that "on the rocks", which in Italian would be "on the rocks", comes from an old Scottish tradition of adding mountain snow-cooled stones to whiskey to cool it.
However, it is more likely that the term was coined in the 40s to describe the addition of ice (commonly called "rock" at the time) to spirits.
Drinking whiskey with ice: the advantages
Pure aromas and flavors
Drinking whiskey on ice is one of the best ways to enjoy the taste and aroma of a great whiskey.
There are no other components that can interfere with the taste of your whiskey, just water. This allows you to fully enjoy the distillate and appreciate its quality.
Water can enhance the scents of whiskey
Adding water to whiskey can "open" it, releasing even more delicious flavors and aromas than pure distillate can offer.
What I'm telling you is backed up by science, as researchers have discovered (click here to read more) that a molecule called guaiacol moves to the top of the glass when water is added to whiskey.
This molecule can intensify the smell and taste of spirits.
The alcohol content decreases
The dilution provided by water can make the alcohol taste less intense. This allows you to taste more of the other flavors in whiskey as alcohol won't dominate your taste buds.
This is why high-strength whiskeys like i cask strenght they will benefit from ice or a sprinkle of water as opposed to whiskeys with a minimum alcohol content of 40%.
Cool your distillate and rehydrate your body
Drinking cold whiskey can be more refreshing during the warmer months. The presence of ice also has the added advantage of hydrating the body, which is useful during hot days in the height of summer.
Drinking whiskey with ice: the disadvantages
The whiskey dilution continues to increase
The problem with putting ice in your whiskey is that it will continue to melt, which continually changes the dilution of your drink.
If you don't drink it fast enough, your whiskey will pass that "sweet spot" where the whiskey is perfectly diluted and turn into "whiskey flavored water".
This is an absolute tragedy if you are drinking a high quality whiskey.
This is why most whiskey aficionados disapprove of ice with whiskey.
Instead they prefer to drink it straight or with a small amount of water source (sometimes cold). If you are drinking a mediocre whiskey, this is a relative problem.
Too cold whiskey is not as good
Many whiskey purists believe that adding ice to whiskey can make it too cold. This anesthetizes the tongue and makes the drinker lose the deeper complexities of the distillate.
Despite the potential drawbacks of drinking whiskey on ice, it can also be enjoyable, particularly on hot days.
Try your favorite whiskey on ice to see if you find it enjoyable. When it comes to whiskey, the only thing that really matters is how much you are enjoying your drink.
