We visited Highland Park on Orkney (highly recommend) and the guy giving the tour insisted that putting a few drops of water in your glass is the way to go. The science is a bit murky and I haven't found any blind taste test results that could guide me to the proper amount.
With Scotch prices what they are I switched to Bourbon and actually a really cheap brand (Benchmark) and when I don't drink it on the rocks I mix it with diet ginger ale: that really "opens up" something but I don't know what it is.
Speaking of cheap, i discovered the E&J XO brandy a couple years ago and it blew me away. It's only about $12 where i get it and it beats the crap out if the $40 specialty brandy's I've gotten over the years. I have the suspicion that they flavor it or something but it's full proof and doesn't say it's flavored anywhere. It's honestly so good it feels too good to be true.
With Scotch prices what they are I switched to Bourbon and actually a really cheap brand (Benchmark) and when I don't drink it on the rocks I mix it with diet ginger ale: that really "opens up" something but I don't know what it is.