Whiskey Stones

[lordofthepiperings]

If you haven't heard of them they're stones that retain the cold of the freezer and don't sweat so your glass of whiskey or scotch etc. isn't watered down. My girl picked up a box of nine of them from Sur La Table on sale for around $12, they're usually $20. I really like them alot and was curious how many other people have heard of or use them.

 

[dervis]

I have a few for guests. They certainly work. I prefer mine off the rocks.

 

[sparroa]

I have heard of them but I have never used them.
I would appreciate it as a gift but I would probably never buy them for myself. I would probably buy Scotch with the money instead.
I prefer to drink Scotch or Bourbon neat, at room temperature, with a glass of spring water on the side to occasionally cleanse my palate.
I know a drop or two of water can "open up" a single malt but I really prefer the concentrated flavours.
I'd imagine that the whiskey stones are great, though, for occasions where I wanted something cold.

 

[scurvydog]

I was given some as a gift. I have only used them a few times. I am stuck in my old ways of drinking bourbon neat and room temp.

 

[gray4lines]

I have heard of em and want to try them out. I prefer bourbon and whiskey a little chilled, so I think I'd like em!

 

[captainsousie]

I have a couple packs I got for $3 each. The only thing I've used them for is an ice pack.
Love my whiskey with a little water at cellar temp.

 

[crk69]

Yep, got a set of them myself and regularly use them with my scotch... Have to fight wifey off of them sometimes as we had two sets when new, but gave one away to a friend.

 

[backyardbriar]

The phrase "On the rocks" came from the Scottish pulling cold pebbles out of the river bed and dropping them into their glasses of scotch to chill the drink. The little bit of spring water helped open it up and dilute it a bit. So now these freezer pack like "rocks" are out on the market to replicate that old tradition and prevent the over diluted whiskey that happens when trying to sip on a dram with ice cubes. I say using actual "rocks" is a great idea and I would be tempted to just put pebbles in the freezer. Putting the whole bottle in the freezer would be too cold for me, and most drinkers; I'll leave that for Gin and Vodka. And if using these "Whiskey stones" or actual pebbles, I would still put in a drop of spring water!

A toast, gentlemen?

 

[lordofthepiperings]

The whiskey stones are made from specific rock to help keep the cold in. The ones from Sur La Table are soapstone which supposedly is one of the more superior stones at retaining cold temperatures.
Don't think I'd ever put a spirit in the freezer. Maybe in the refridgerator but definitely not the freezer. If you froze the spirit then it'd sweat itself upon thawing and dillute the flavor too much.

 

[baronsamedi]

I like Scotch usually with a bit of water and bourbon with an ice cube. The rocks sound interesting, though. I did put a small, compacted snowball in a glass of scotch once. simnettpratt yelled at me for adulterating my scotch, but it tasted pretty good!

 

[lordofthepiperings]

I just assumed if you put a liquid in a freezer it'd freeze. Never knew the freezing point of alcohol but then again I've never heard of anyone ever putting a spirti in a freezer before which is probably why I never thought of alcohol's freezing point.

 

[lordnoble]

I only drink my vodka from the freezer. I've got whiskey stones on my wish list, but that's about where it ends.
-Jason

 

[baronsamedi]

Alcohol freezes at -173°F so no worries there!

 

[pipeinhand]

I like the water as ice melts, changes the flavor notes as I drink it.

 

[dragonslayer]

I only drink my vodka from the freezer

The only way to drink Stoli.

 

[simnettpratt]

@baron; Hey, I forgave you later because we had snow in Texas (on Christmas!), and you were entitled to go a little wonky
I put vodka in the freezer too; don't put anything in scotch or bourbon though. The rocks seemed like a good idea in other beverages though, because they don't dilute the drink. I had a friend who wanted to raid his father's home bar when he was away, so he carefully selected somthing he didn't think his dad would miss. He found this old bottle of brandy and drank the whole thing. Later on, he felt guilty and told his dad. Turns out it was a $4,000 bottle of brandy that was laid down in the Middle Ages.
He mixed it with Coke.

 

[shaintiques]

Straight is how I take mine as well, but a little hilled might be nice.

 

[bogglor]

At the whiskey bar around here they have a big ice block and chip off chunks of it so that those who want rocks get the nice slow melt of one single larger chunk rather than regular cubes which melt too quickly. I prefer it neat when I'm at home, but when I go out it can be nice to enjoy a glass in this way.

 

[buster]

No, never tried whisky stones.I like my scotch room temperature with a splash of room temperature water. That's just how I do it.

 

[hfearly]

I've tried them but they don't cool my dram down enough. I usually like it around the 14 Degrees Celsius and add two or three drops of spring water to wake up the flavors.