To ice or not to ice?

One of the most commonly asked question on drinking scotch is whether to add ice to the drink?  Well, most connoisseurs of scotch will agree that it is best to drink scotch neat (nothing else added), or with a dash of water (to "open" up the flavors), and advise against adding ice to the mix.  Why?  There are two main reasons:

1. Adding ice will "freeze" the scotch aroma and flavors, dulling the taste of the drink.
2. As the ice melts, the water will dilute the scotch, and with it, its true flavor.

Personally, I prefer to drink my scotch at room temperature, as I feel that only at this temperature does the full flavor and aroma of the scotch truly reveals itself. 

However, it is also true that scotch is an acquired taste.  For most beginners, drinking scotch neat may simply be too harsh and over-powering.  This is fairly common, and there is no shame in adding one or two ice cubes in this case to help smooth the drinking process and make it more enjoyable. 

If you find yourself drinking your scotch with ice cubes, do consider enjoying it without ice.  It may be rough the first few tries, but I believe that once you get past that initial stage, you will be getting more out of your scotch and enjoying it a lot better.