Muahahahahaha another convert
Sorry mate dont know the secret but I always take water with my whisky. I like it with about 1/2 whisky and 1/2 water , like yourself without the water I find it is too sharp. Water seems to release some of the aroma and flavour for me .
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the malts you had a taste off are quite mellow, the island malts like talisker and laphroig are more peaty - my wife says they smell like medicine