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Here at Crystal Neat, we keep our parties chill. Check back regularly for new stories, articles, and recipes from our staff of experts!
NEAT OR COOLED -- WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
Traditionally, whiskey is served either neat, meaning without ice and room temperature or on the rocks, which means served with ice, either in an ice cube or chilling stones. What's the difference? Why do some people enjoy whiskey cold, and why do some enjoy it at a relatively warm temperature? Well, the first is to understand how cold affects beverages and food.
Cold blunts the taste and cuts the taste of any food. So whether it's a strong cheese or a strong high proof whiskey, the colder it is, the less bite it has and the less punch it will have. So some people who love the taste of whiskey, but think it's just a tattoo strong would prefer it on the rocks.
The problem with this, as we mentioned throughout our site is that eventually the ice melts and when the ice melts, it will end up mixing with the whiskey and diluting it, becoming more of a whiskey and water combination. This also is an acceptable way to drink whiskey, but it further blunts and dilutes the taste.
In contrast, drinking whiskey neat keeps the liquid at room temperature and allows you to experience the fullness of the flavor. Absent the chill, whiskey usually has a warm and round flavor, and at room temperature, you can detect the notes of the elements from the distillation process.
So what to do? How do people who enjoy that coldness and able to drink whiskey without eventually diluting the it once it comes to room temperature?
Well, this is where Crystal Need excels. We have created a cooling mechanism with our glasses that will keep the whiskey at a temperature as cold as if it was on ice but still allows you to experience the fullness of the flavor.