Whiskey is a distilled spirit made from grain. It can be taken neat or straight, on the rocks, with water, warmed up or mixed. A type of distilled alcohol beverage made from any grain-based product, fermented, distilled and generally matured in oak barrels. As with all spirits, the base product varies and tends to be linked to the exact location of both where the grain is farmed and where the distillery is located. Drinking whiskey is a magical experience. It’s a drink you can savour with close friends, or enjoy while making new friends at your local bar or pub. And there are quite a number of ways to enjoy whiskey: You can drink it neat, shake or stir it into a modern cocktail, or concoct rejuvenating glasses of classic whiskey cocktails.
The five most popular ways to serve whiskey are neat, with cold water, on the rocks, chilled with whiskey stones, and in cocktails. All of them are delicious and perfect for savouring the amazing flavour of whiskey.
There are lots of names for a measure of whisky. They include: a nip, a toot, a tot, a snifter, and a wee one. But the most common name for a measure of whisky is a dram.
Drinking a spirit “neat” is the most straight-forward. A “neat” drink is a pure spirit, poured into a glass with no other ingredients added, not even ice.
If you love to enjoy the aroma and flavor of your whiskey, then go choose neat. It's basically whiskey at room temperature without ice. On the Rocks – This simply means that whiskey will be served with ice. Whiskey with Water – This is just it – whiskey with water.
Some are better drunk straight, while some are too harsh that they need to be served cold as they are easier to take in when their alcohol has been toned down. It also shreds off its “bad taste” when cold, so first-time drinkers find it easier to drink whiskey cold.
“If a cowhand was low on cash he would often give the bartender a cartridge in exchange for a drink. This became known as a 'shot' of whiskey.”
A “Whiskey on the rocks” is one of the most popular ways to drink whiskey. It is a simple drink that combines a straight pour of whiskey over ice, served in a whiskey tumbler.
Sip Whiskey, Don't Shoot Some people may do it, but that doesn't make it right. For one thing, a lot of premium whiskeys are unfriendly to shoot - your palate will burn - and for another, you're going to detect zero flavor notes. Sip neat, don't shoot.
Order at a bar
If you're looking to taste whisky, order the whiskey “neat,” which means no ice, no water, no other mixers or garnishes – just the whisky in a glass. If you're there to drink whiskey (as in, you don't really care about the nuances, you're just looking to get a job done) order it however you like!
Like a Gentleman