Whiskey On The Rocks: What Is It? How Do You Drink It?

by Dane Wilson | Last Updated: September 8, 2022

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When it comes to drinking whiskey, a commonly heard term is the phrase whiskey on the rocks. In fact, it isn’t uncommon to hear it requested in bars, pubs, restaurants or any other establishment where someone could order and drink whiskey. However, if you’re new to whiskey or alcohol in general then you may be wondering, what is whiskey on the rocks? And how do you drink it?

Table of Contents

• What Is Whiskey On The Rocks?
• The Pros And Cons Of Whisky On The Rocks
  • The Positives Of Whiskey On The Rocks
  • The Negatives Of Whiskey On The Rocks
• How To Make Whiskey On The Rocks
• Alternatives To Whiskey On The Rocks
• Answered: Whiskey On The Rocks: What Is It? How Do You Drink It?
• FAQ – Whiskey On The Rocks: What Is It? How Do You Drink It?

What Is Whiskey On The Rocks?

To put it simply, whiskey on the rocks is a phrase that is used to describe whiskey poured over some ice cubes. When doing so though, you would not add any other ingredients or a mixer such as coke to the glass. As such, for those who just wish to drink whiskey without any additional flavours on the rocks is a good option. Another being to drink it neat or without anything else added, including ice.

The Pros And Cons Of Whisky On The Rocks

Whilst, drinking whiskey on the rocks is a great way of enjoying some Scotch whisky or high-proof bourbon whiskeys, some whiskey purists will always champion drinking them neat instead. The reason is that whilst the addition of ice will not introduce any new flavours to the drink it will alter the existing ones. As such, in order to understand the true nature of a whiskey, purists argue that one should drink it neat. That said though, there are a myriad of positives and negatives to drinking whiskey on the rocks rather than neat.

The Positives Of Whiskey On The Rocks

As mentioned above there are some benefits that are gained from drinking whisky on the rocks. Of course, like with a lot of things alcohol related this is a subjective matter, however, I personally like to sometimes drink whiskey this way. Some reasons for doing so include the following points:

• Takes the edge off the harsher notes of more mediocre whiskey
• Cools the whiskey down which in some cases will release extra nuanced flavours for your taste buds to enjoy.
• Allows you to enjoy the aromas and flavours of the whiskey without the interference of additional flavours.
• Mutes the alcohol flavour, allowing more of the other qualities of a fine whiskey to shine through.
• Makes the drink more refreshing and hydrating during the warmer months.
• When new to drinking whiskey without a mixer, this is a good way to work up to drinking it neat.

The Negatives Of Whiskey On The Rocks

As mentioned before many whiskey purists are not a fan of the idea of drinking whiskey on the rocks. However, this isn’t due to some form of elitism though. In fact, there are many very compelling reasons why whiskey should be served neat instead. Some of which include the following points:

• Adding ice to your whiskey will invariably water down your drink with the problem becoming more acute as the ice melts further. If left too long and they melt completely, you’ll find that you may as well be drinking whiskey-flavored water.
• Whilst some whiskies will benefit from being served with ice to make them cooler, this isn’t a universal truth. In fact, many whiskies will have their flavours inhibited when chilled too much. Hence why it isn’t recommended that you freeze whiskey.
• Honestly, this can just be a way of spoiling an excellent whiskey. The reason is that high-end whiskies have had their flavour’s perfected over years or even decades worth of time. As such, the introduction of any new ingredient, even one like ice can be enough to disturb a perfect whiskey balance.

How To Make Whiskey On The Rocks

Making whiskey on the rocks is incredibly simple. Really all you need is your whiskey of choice, some ice cubes and a glass. However, to get the best out of the experience there are some things that you should consider.

Firstly, the ice. Now, this may sound odd but not all ice is made equally. In order to avoid it quickly diluting your whiskey, one or two large ice cubes are recommended. The reason being that they will thaw more slowly. Additionally, clear ones made with distilled water will melt even more slowly and not introduce any impurities to the drink. Speaking of which, if you intend to use ice with whiskey or indeed any other drink, it should be kept sealed and replaced regularly to avoid it soaking up odours from nearby food. Additionally, the longer you keep ice the more crystalised it will become, meaning it will thaw more quickly.

Secondly, using the right glass will enhance the drinking experience. In particular, a whiskey glass, otherwise known as a rocks glass, lowball glass or old-fashioned glass is what you’ll want. The reason for this being that its shape will help funnel the aromas of whiskey more effectively to your nose as you drink. Thereby providing the drinker with the full whiskey drinking experience.

Alternatives To Whiskey On The Rocks

Now of course, if you wish to achieve some of the effects of whiskey on the rocks without diluting your whiskey with ice, then there are some options you can employ to accomplish this. Each of which is something that is simple to do at home. However, when out in public you may find them impractical to do. With that in mind then, some of the alternative options available include the following possibilities:

• Whiskey Stones: Simply put, these are stones made from minerals such as stainless steel or soapstone. These work by being kept in the freezer so that they remain ice cold. The result being that when added to a glass of whiskey, they will cool down the whiskey’s temperature without diluting it with water.
• Chilling The Glass: In a similar vain a trick typically used for vodka can also be applied to whiskey. Here instead of adding ice or using whiskey stones, you instead cool down the glass. Either in the fridge or the freezer. The result again being that the whiskey will be cooled without becoming diluted.
• With A Back: Similar to the concept of a chaser, ordering a whiskey with a back will mean ordering it alongside another drink of your choice. This can be done with whiskey on the rocks as well. However, with a neat whiskey, I would argue it’s even better. The reason being that you can pair a refreshing drink that takes the edge off the alcohol in your whiskey. Allowing you to drink it slowly and avoid it becoming diluted. If wanting to avoid drinking a lot of alcohol, soft drinks are a good option. That said though, something like beer or cider will make for particularly fun choices. 

Answered: Whiskey On The Rocks: What Is It? How Do You Drink It?

So as we now know from the information above, whiskey on the rocks simply refers to whiskey that is served with nothing but ice. When you do so, to get the best out of your whiskey, large ice cubes and an old-fashioned glass are recommended.

That said though, some people will prefer to have their whiskey neat for a myriad of reasons. Most notably though, they may wish to drink whisky without it becoming diluting as the ice melts. As such, alternative options to serving it on the rocks such as whiskey stones, chilling the glass or serving it alongside a back of some sort are great ways to get the best of both worlds.

Either way though, no matter which option you choose, all are valid ways of drinking whiskey. This being true when you drink whisky neat, on the rocks or even with a mixer. The reason being that ultimately, the decision will primarily come down to your own personal preferences.

FAQ – Whiskey On The Rocks: What Is It? How Do You Drink It?