It is known that the quality of water used in producing whisky affects the taste of the product itself. While we as consumers are unable to control that part of the process, we can choose a label of whisky we like and pick the type of water that goes best with the whisky.
This is not to tell you that you have to add water into your dram, but an experiment using one five different types of water in the same whisky expression has resulted in some good discovery. The results are derived from experimenting 5 different types of water in 5 separate glasses of whisky by each attendant.
Whisky: The Glenlivet 15 year old
Whisky tasting note: Aged in French Limousin Oak that is used to age cognac, the Glenlivet 15YO is oaky on the nose, tastes fudgy and slight acidity on the palate with a spicy after taste.
Water used: Evian natural mineral water, Sole natural mineral sparkling water, local treated water, F&N soda water and ice tap water.
Attendants: Lexie Rodriguez (LR) - Co-Founder of Cocktails Solutions, model and presenter; Joshua Ivanovic (JI) - Director of Cocktail Solutions; Constantine (C) - Presenter for Lite FM.
1. Evian natural mineral water
LR: Just pure whisky taste, you still get the strong alcohol taste and throat burner; harsh.
JI: It compliments the whisky without adding anything extra to it.
C: Taste a bit sour, like a girl who is very serious.
2. Sole natural mineral sparkling water
LR: Makes the whisky taste really sweet, it is smooth and you can’t taste the burning.
JI: It is a nice dilution, the water masks the openness of the whisky and bring up the sweetness.
C: Has an expensive taste to it, like a glamour queen.
3. Local treated water brand
LR: Watered down.
JI: Taste like good whisky with bad ice. It’s over diluted and almost like getting the remnants of the whisky with not much left of the body.
C: Flat.
4. F&N soda water
LR: I don’t like fizzy whisky.
JI: I’d like it if it is with loads of ice in it, very, very cold.
C: Hmm… different. Never tried it this way before other than in coke, not very good though.
5. Ice tap water
LR: Taste like it’s been sitting in ice for hours!
JI: It’s just revolting!
C: (Showing face with disgust)!
Conclusion
LR: I like the second one. I’m not so much of a whisky drinker and I feel comfortable with this taste.
JI: I like the first one, the second one is too sweet.
C: The second one. I don’t drink a lot of whisky but this one tastes smooth and expensive.
Whatever water you use to "open up" your glass of whisky, avoid tap water. A bar would usually add water to your dram at your request with a bottle of mineral water. You can always ask for a different mixer to go with your whisky. If you are paying a few hundred ringgit for a bottle of whisky, why would you want to spoil it with bad water? Worse, with cola that kills the taste of a state-of-the-art aged whisky?
Note: We thank Fluid Alchemy Bar School for lending us their space for the tasting.