Sometimes dilution & cooling liquor is appropriate. For those learning to refine their taste buds, a shot approaching 100 proof is too concentrated to appreciat

Sometimes dilution & cooling liquor is appropriate. For those learning to refine their taste buds, a shot approaching 100 proof is too concentrated to appreciate - but adding a little water and chilling make it much easier to savor. I have to pipe up about this because a few months back I had the delightful experience of savoring 1911 apple vodka poured over rare fresh Georgia snow (something a tap water ice cube just doesn't replicate properly). Yeah, an $8 ice cube is rather nuts, but if you are going to chill & thin an otherwise fine expensive liquor, taking effort to use good water and careful freezing (avoiding "freezer burn") is worthwhile. Or wait for a good snowfall.