The “How To” of drinking scotch has always been a matter of opinion. So we might as well add our own to the mix.

First, there’s no “right way” or “wrong way.” Drinking scotch is like swimming. Just jump in and start kicking. Don’t worry too much about form.

However, we do have some suggestions about ways to maximize your enjoyment. Our personal believe is that scotch was not meant to be watered down, so we don’t add water to our drink. However, if you insist of watering down a perfectly fine drink, try spring water rather than any other type. Never add tap water, unless you simply enjoy the thought (or taste) of adding chlorine and who knows what else to this fine beverage.

Incidentally, don’t forget that when you order your scotch “over the rocks”, you’re automatically watering down your drink, numbing your taste buds, and reducing the affects of the aroma. In similar fashion, mixing in ginger ale, soda or even coke changes the fabled tastes and aroma of scotch to something entirely different.

A good way to experiment on choosing your favorite scotch, incidentally, is to buy some of those miniature bottles. This lets you enjoy a number of different tastes and aromas before you zero in on your favorites. Again, skip the mixes and don’t water down the flavor. If you find a particular flavor too much of what scotch drinkers call a “sharp attack”—but still tasty—try sipping smaller quantities. You’ll find that over time you get used to the impact of the flavor, and actually appears to be smoother to your tastes, although it’s more that you’re getting used to it than that the flavor itself has changed.

We’re purists, we admit. But from long years of experience with this fine drink, we’ve found that scotch is best enjoyed neat, all by itself, in the company of good friends.