Answers.Body: <p>The answer really depends on what you're looking for in the drink.  </p>
  
  <p>1) The hotter the whiskey the more rapid the alcohol evaporates out and more of the bitter-notes shine through. Adding ice is cold + water which can also mask some of the whiskey characteristics while taking away some of the "harsh" fore taste of the whiskey.</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>*Whiskey stones could be a good alternative if you want cooler whiskey without the effects of the water.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>2) The Perrier Water is going to add some fizz + bring the whiskey toward the temperature of the Perrier. The cooler the Perrier, the more the temperature drop on the finished product will be. Conversly, the hotter the Perrier is served, the more rapid the loss of CO2 will be. </p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>*Freezing the Perrier (or being cold enough to almost freeze) can be dangerous because the H2O (32ºF/0ºC) freeze before the CO2 (-109.3ºF/-78.5ºC) causing a lot of pressure and potentially an pressurized explosion to occur.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>3) The ideal ratio of Perrier+Whiskey is going to solely depend on the imbiber's taste. The more Perrier, the more fizz and more "watered down" the final drink. The less Perrier, the less fizz and more whiskey you will taste.</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>*Watered down is not being used in a negative connotation here. It is being used as a catch all to describe all of the ways water (carbonated or not) affect whiskey and other liquors. </p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>The real answer is... Experiment! </p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Try:</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Johnny Walker, neat, at room temp.</li>
  <li>Johnny walker, neat, chilled</li>
  <li>Perrier at room temp.</li>
  <li>Perrier chilled</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Then measure out ratios based on what your perceptions were.
  If you liked the Johnny Walker closer to room temp, both should be closer to room temp. Adding measured volumes of each until you achieve your perfect ratio. </p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>*An important note: The reason you don't add ice on top of the Perrier is because of the dilution when the ice melts. Therefore you could add whiskey-stones that chill without the dilution. </p>
  </blockquote>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-08-05T07:45:42.773Z
Answers.Text: A purist notes that Johnny Walker is 'whisky', as it comes from Scotland.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Michael Harvey
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-07-02T15:03:00.013Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2018-07-02T15:03:00.013Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: BryceH
Answers.Body: <p>Hitchens said this was his drink combination because it was so &quot;available everywhere.&quot; Heard him talk about returning to his room at 2 a.m. pouring this drink &amp; writing for his column after lengthy meals in restaurants that included multiple bottles of wine, makes me think the Perrier &amp; whisky were probably drank at room temperature.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2023-09-19T22:31:48.303Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2023-09-19T22:31:48.303Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Louis Lorenzi-Prince
Body: <p>I'm curious to experience Christopher Hitchens reported favourite drink. He described it as Johnnie Walker black, cut with perrier water, and no ice.</p>
  
  <p>I've had a go and it's interesting, but I'm wondering what else needs to be done to get the perfect drink:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>What temperature should the whisky be?</li>
  <li>What temperature should the perrier water be?</li>
  <li>What would be the ideal ratio of whisky to water?</li>
  </ol>
  
Tags: <scotch>
Title: How to correctly do a "Hitch Mix" - Johnnie walker and perrier water
UserDisplayName: TheIronKnuckle
ThreadText: # How to correctly do a "Hitch Mix" - Johnnie walker and perrier water
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2018-07-01)
  
  I'm curious to experience Christopher Hitchens reported favourite drink. He described it as Johnnie Walker black, cut with perrier water, and no ice.
  
  I've had a go and it's interesting, but I'm wondering what else needs to be done to get the perfect drink:
  
  1. What temperature should the whisky be?
  2. What temperature should the perrier water be?
  3. What would be the ideal ratio of whisky to water?
  
  **Tags:** scotch
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2018-07-02. Score: 3 | Accepted answer
  
  The answer really depends on what you're looking for in the drink.
  
  1) The hotter the whiskey the more rapid the alcohol evaporates out and more of the bitter-notes shine through. Adding ice is cold + water which can also mask some of the whiskey characteristics while taking away some of the "harsh" fore taste of the whiskey.
  
  > \*Whiskey stones could be a good alternative if you want cooler whiskey without the effects of the water.
  
  2) The Perrier Water is going to add some fizz + bring the whiskey toward the temperature of the Perrier. The cooler the Perrier, the more the temperature drop on the finished product will be. Conversly, the hotter the Perrier is served, the more rapid the loss of CO2 will be.
  
  > \*Freezing the Perrier (or being cold enough to almost freeze) can be dangerous because the H2O (32ºF/0ºC) freeze before the CO2 (-109.3ºF/-78.5ºC) causing a lot of pressure and potentially an pressurized explosion to occur.
  
  3) The ideal ratio of Perrier+Whiskey is going to solely depend on the imbiber's taste. The more Perrier, the more fizz and more "watered down" the final drink. The less Perrier, the less fizz and more whiskey you will taste.
  
  > \*Watered down is not being used in a negative connotation here. It is being used as a catch all to describe all of the ways water (carbonated or not) affect whiskey and other liquors.
  
  The real answer is... Experiment!
  
  > Try:
  
  * Johnny Walker, neat, at room temp.
  * Johnny walker, neat, chilled
  * Perrier at room temp.
  * Perrier chilled
  
  Then measure out ratios based on what your perceptions were.
  If you liked the Johnny Walker closer to room temp, both should be closer to room temp. Adding measured volumes of each until you achieve your perfect ratio.
  
  > \*An important note: The reason you don't add ice on top of the Perrier is because of the dilution when the ice melts. Therefore you could add whiskey-stones that chill without the dilution.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_2**: A purist notes that Johnny Walker is 'whisky', as it comes from Scotland.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2023-09-19. Score: 0
  
  Hitchens said this was his drink combination because it was so "available everywhere." Heard him talk about returning to his room at 2 a.m. pouring this drink & writing for his column after lengthy meals in restaurants that included multiple bottles of wine, makes me think the Perrier & whisky were probably drank at room temperature.
  
  
  ---
  
  