Whiskey has often been touted for its fascinating flavors and intricate character but what is just as fascinating is the process and craftsmanship behind the spirit. The crafting of light is one element that is often overlooked; however, blending water is extremely important to it. Blending water with whiskey is not only used as a watering agent to get the alcohol content down to proof, it actually modifies the feel of the spirit on your palate, allows for balanced flavor, and allows the whiskey's character to shine and hit its mark.

In whiskey production, where small changes can create great nuance in flavor and sophistication, blending water makes whiskey from a raw spirit into a well-thought-out spirit. What we would like to look into now is what blending water is, why blending water is important, how blending water does its work, and its overall effect on the whiskey you are drinking.

What exactly is Blending Water?

Blending water is the treated water used in the alcohol reduction step after distillation or aging of the whiskey product.   Most whiskey comes out of the cask between 50% or more alcohol by volume (ABV), so it's quite strong for some palates.  By blending water down to a standard 40-46% ABV, the whiskey can become an easier spirit to sip on, while still being able to showcase its complex flavors.   You won't read this anywhere else, but blending water is not just a tap water that remains free of minerals, chlorine, and impurities.  Tap water has been treated, but it has not gone through the same rigorous purification techniques as blending water—reverse osmosis, deionization, or distillation—in order to make sure it has no contaminants that will affect the taste or clarity of the whiskey product.

Having neutral water is important for whiskey, because it is a spirit admired for its deep notes of oak, spice or fruit.  The flavor notes are also a product of the cask it has been aging in.  Any hint of minerals or chemicals in the water will impact the flavor.  A chemical of any sort as opposed to just having the complexity of flavors in the whiskey is a bad comparison.  A distiller wants to be sure they have pristine water to make sure the whiskey captures the true spirit as they can of the distillation and aging craftmanship that they practice.

Why is it important to blend in some water?

The role of blending water is more than just dilution. It is all about finding the balance that, in turn, makes whiskey an enjoyable spirit. High proof and especially cask strength whiskey often feel raging and fiery as alcohol can mask delightful qualities, such as vanilla, caramel or peat. By sneaking in some water, distillers are taking the choking heat off, and letting hidden flavors escape. This works to develop whiskey's signature qualities—its richness and complexity—but does not add bold, foreign flavour.

Blending water also provides blend assurance throughout the batch. Most whiskey is blended from several casks of similar strength. Although each cask has character as no two casks are the same due to variations in wood and maturation, blending water ensures ABV is consistent so every bottle can deliver the same drinking experience consistently. Brands want their consumers to consistently taste their product exactly the same every time they drink it.

What Effects Does Blending Water Add to the Texture of Whiskey?

Texture (what some call "mouthfeel") in premium whiskey is a key factor. Water also directly impacts mouthfeel, determining if its feel is silky, creamy, or harsh. Too little water leaves whiskey aggressive and burning; too much water leaves whiskey feeling thin and diluted. The perfect amount generates a smooth and rounded mouthfeel that complements the other flavors of the spirit while leaving a well-balanced finish.

When distillers blend water into whiskey the aim is very calculated. Distillers want to ensure they hit the target ABV while adjusting mouthfeel. A barrel-proof whiskey that is well balanced at 43% ABV will always feel fuller and more harmonious than one that has been diluted, wasteless and mindlessly. The recipe for premium whiskey is deeper than ABV alone.

What’s the Harmonics of Blending Water?

At the molecular level, increasing the water content in high-proof spirits dramatically changes how the ethanol acts with the whiskey in exciting ways. In high-proof spirits, ethanol molecules cluster. When you add water to a high-proof whiskey, those clusters may break apart, allowing for volatile compounds to escape and depending on what one perceives as flavor, spices, fruits, or overall oak character. This embodies a lot of what you hear when individuals say to "open it up" with a splash of water in a glass of whiskey.

Water's quality is paramount. The water's pH must be neutral (with no minerals) so as not to lessen or change the spirit's chemistry and its elements. Pure and distilled water, unlike drinking water, accomplishes a few objectives: very minor crystals, if any, will form during gelification and filtration, ph has to be as near neutral as possible and at room temperature, no minerals which allows flavor and style. Some distilleries take water from local spring sources - this ties the whiskey to its terroir, but many filters are used to clean' water before use in whiskey production.

What is Blending Water?

During production, blending water is added after maturation to get the right ABV determination. (For example, the blending process typically involves having multiple casks to blend together to create an overall consistent product profile; the water serves as the common base.) As with mashing waters, many distilleries - especially the distilleries in Scotland often use local source waters to both mashing and blending with a regional context built-in. As the whiskey's story takes shape (using liquid science plus wartime tradition), distilleries tell stories through mashing, blending, casks and cut points in the distillation process and the region and/or place where the water was sourced. It's clear there are many variables that factor into whiskey (single malt Scoth or bourbon) quality maintaining and enhancement.

Can Consumers Use Blending Water?

Blending water's impact does not stop at whiskey production. For consumers of whiskey, blending water now has an impact on the glass as well. Consumers may use a few drops of purified water, (as compared to tap water) greatly increasing the heritage of flavors and providing more smoothness, emulating the whisky distiller’s intention. During tastings, blending water is used between pours to allow consumers to highlight the differences in the whiskeys. However, using tap water can introduce impurities, so using bottled water (or filtered) is recommended. For cocktails, a cocktail made with distilling quality whiskey, along with balanced mixing water will make a solid drink, for example, an old fashioned or Manhattan.

What's Next for Blending Water with Whiskey?

As whiskey extends its popularity, distillers are more receptive to integrating blending water into their processes and recipes. The need for purification technologies, sustainability, and the need to eliminate water waste have also become a high priority. Consumers are becoming more curious regarding the craft and therefore blending water may become a highly interesting topic for consumers exploring their spirits.

Conclusion

Blending water is the unspoken influence on the balance and complexity of whiskey. Blending water is essential to the texture and flavor enhancement of the spirit, and is essential to the quality of the spirit. If you're looking for a perfect whiskey experience, then it is worth drinking a spirit made with precision, such as a spirit that has undergone Jackend's blending water structure, because each sip will exemplify the skill of distilling.