How to Drink Whiskey Neat

Let’s get one thing straight right away: There’s no right or wrong way to learn how to drink whiskey and enjoy its nuances. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. I was told to swirl my glass, turn my nose up and down in a clockwise circle, not add water, never add water, and even spit my first sip on the floor. The truth is, the best whiskey is meant to be enjoyed the way you want it, and luckily, there are plenty of brands, distilleries, and varieties (like Japanese whiskey, rye whiskey, Scotch, and bourbon) to try. will I recommend you try the whiskey neat.

If whiskey cocktails are your gateway to drinking whiskey neat, fine.

“Whiskey drinking should satisfy one’s personal whims and tastes,” says Chris Sweeney, owner of Spaghetti Western Imports. “But as a general rule, it’s best to drink whiskey neat. If you don’t know where you’re starting from, how do you know where you’re going?”

Related: The Best Cheap Whiskey of 2024 for a Great Bottle on a Budget

Whiskey Neat Meaning

First things first: What is negative whiskey? Ordering whiskey neat means drinking it straight from the bottle in a glass, without ice, water, or mixers. Anyone who has ever watched a classic Hollywood film noir or a 1940s Western probably has a romantic image of someone walking up to the bar and ordering whiskey neat. The bartender drinks by slapping a glass over his head, pours a few ounces, and the customer slams the glass back down hard. Sure, that’s one way to do it, but sipping whiskey neat is a lot more enjoyable than squirting a shot down your throat.

Should You Drink Your Whiskey Neat or on the Rocks?

Now that we know what whiskey is, let's move on to “on the rocks”.

This means adding ice to your whiskey. This can be a handful of small cubes or a large block or sphere of ice. Many whiskey drinkers prefer the latter because the larger surface area means the ice melts slowly and dilution doesn’t occur as quickly.

Some people prefer to add a few drops of water to whisky to open up the palate (many Scotch whisky distillers recommend this), and it is also a way to deliberately and delicately reduce the whisky to the level you want.

“I always say that water opens up whiskey and ice closes it,” says Mike Vacheresse, owner of Travel Bar Brooklyn, where you can find one of the best collections in New York City. “That’s not to say I never drink whiskey on the rocks, but when I’m getting to know the whiskey and I’m socializing with friends, I drink it when I’m not sitting down to taste it.”

Instead of ordering your whiskey with water, so you can drink too much or too little, ask for “water back.” The bartender will give you a separate glass of water so you can add a few drops to the glass yourself.

Neat Whiskey or 'Up'?

If you grab a seat at your local bar and order a whiskey “up” instead of neat, don't be too embarrassed, it's a common mistake. Here's the difference. An “up” refers to a cocktail that has been shaken or stirred over ice to dilute and chill it before being poured into an ice-free glass. Think of classic cocktails like a Martini, Manhattan, or Last Word; they're all traditionally served “up.”

So remember: “neat” means pour a bit of whiskey, and “up” means a cocktail made with whiskey that you don't want to dilute further with ice.

Related: We Tried Thousands of Whiskeys. These 18 Bottles Are Great for Gifting

When Should You Order Whiskey?

The best answer is whenever you feel like it! But generally speaking, you should order your whiskey neat when you really want to get to know a particular brand, bottle, or distillery. As mentioned earlier, neat whiskey is whiskey without any bells, whistles, frills, lipstick, or whatever other idioms you prefer. If there’s a whiskey you’ve always wanted to try and you see it available at a bar, go ahead and order it neat. And don’t be afraid to order some water or ice in case you decide to soften the blow after a few sips.

What is the Best Whiskey to Drink Neat?

This all comes down to personal preference.

“Every whiskey I taste, I try it neat first,” Vacheresse says. “Yes, I’ve tried whiskeys over 150 proof neat; that’s part of learning how to drink.” Of course, you don’t have to start with a whiskey that strong, as there are plenty of good options that fall between 80 proof minimum and 90 or 100 proof.

If you’re tasting a whiskey under 100 proof, Sweeney says you can take a more hands-off approach. “In these cases, the proof is where the bottler/producer thinks it should be,” he says.

A low-alcohol whiskey may be easier to sip neat, but a strong whiskey that’s been barrel-aged can open up a whole new world of whiskey adoration. I can speak from personal experience. I had the pleasure of drinking a 168 proof (translation: 84% ABV!) whiskey neat (if that’s the right word) at a distillery in Canada, and… it was actually pretty good. Sure, it was very strong, but the chance to try it neat in its purest, most face-melting form was worth it.

When it comes to whiskey categories, all can and should be tried neat. There are a few exceptions, of course, but in general, whiskey is distilled and aged with the intention of being sipped neat. Whether you choose to do this or not is up to you, but it’s definitely worth starting your whiskey journey with at least a sip or two neat — or finish the glass if you prefer. “Trust your tongue and allow some room for trial and error,” Sweeney says. “Ultimately, de gustibus unquestionably—there is no accounting for pleasure. Enjoy your whiskey on your own terms.”

Related: Differences Between Bourbon and Whiskey