Sometimes a great whiskey just needs a little help from a great spring

Texas whiskies are having a moment. Perhaps it’s the in and out that the harsh environment has on the whiskey that provides amazing depth of flavor. It could be that many of the Lone Star State’s offerings come full proof. And with that, a pro would know that a really good splash of water will enhance that sipping whiskey even more.

Enter Foy Springs water.

There’s nothing wrong with drinking a big Texas whiskey neat. In fact, when you’ve got a bottle of good bourbon or rye sitting in front of you at 110, 115 or even 120-plus proof, there is something pretty satisfying about taking it straight from the bottle to the glass.

But sometimes that whiskey is hiding a few things.

A few drops of water can lower the alcohol intensity and allow aromas and flavors to become easier to pick out. It’s an old trick among whiskey drinkers, and it makes particular sense with high-proof and cask-strength whiskey. Whiskey advocates note that water can change the way aroma compounds behave in the glass and many recommend experimenting gradually rather than simply dumping a bunch of water into the pour.

The trick is choosing the water.

And that’s where Foy Springs gets interesting.

Start with the source

Foy Springs says its water comes from a protected, naturally flowing underground spring and is bottled at the source. The company doesn’t run it through reverse osmosis or chemical treatment, allowing the naturally occurring mineral profile to remain in the water. That includes calcium, magnesium and potassium, along with naturally occurring silica.

The company’s story is tied to Texas, with Foy Springs based in El Paso. Trademark records show the Foy Springs name has been used in connection with bottled spring and mineral water for years, with the company listing first use dating back to 2016.

What makes the water particularly interesting for whiskey is that it isn’t simply water that has had minerals added to it later. Foy says those minerals occur naturally at the source. The company describes the water as naturally alkaline and rich in silica, with a crisp, clean character and a mineral component that gives it some personality of its own.

And when you’re adding water to a whiskey, personality matters.

Texas whiskey meets Texas water

Texas whiskey already has plenty going on.

The state’s wide swings in temperature can push whiskey in and out of the wood at a pretty good pace, helping create spirits that can be bold, rich and sometimes downright muscular. Add full-proof bottlings to the equation and you’ve got whiskey that doesn’t exactly sneak up on you.

A little water can change that experience.

Try pouring your Texas whiskey neat first. Take a sip. Get a feel for the heat, the oak, the sweetness and whatever else the particular bottle brings to the party.

Then add just a few drops of Foy Springs.

Give it a minute.

Take another sip.

You may find the alcohol has backed off enough to let some of the sweeter or more subtle flavors come forward. Maybe the oak seems a little less aggressive. Maybe the fruit or vanilla becomes easier to find. Or maybe you simply prefer it neat.

That’s the point.

There isn’t a magic amount of water that makes every whiskey better. Water changes the whiskey, and how much you like that change is a matter of taste. Even whiskey professionals have long treated dilution as part of the tasting process, particularly with higher-proof spirits.

Don’t pour. Experiment.

For a first try, think tiny.

Pour an ounce or two of whiskey into your favorite whiskey glass and taste it neat. Then add a few drops of Foy Springs. Taste again. If the whiskey still feels a little closed up, add a few more drops.

A pipette or small dropper is even better because it lets you make the experiment repeatable.

The idea isn’t to turn your bourbon into whiskey-flavored water. It’s to find the point where the whiskey opens up without losing the character that made you reach for the bottle in the first place.

And that’s what makes the Foy Springs idea worth trying.

We’re accustomed to talking about whiskey’s mash bill, barrels, proof, aging and finish. Water gets plenty of attention when a distillery is making whiskey, but we don’t always think about it once the bottle gets home.

Maybe we should.

Especially when the whiskey in question is a big Texas pour that arrives with plenty of heat and plenty of personality.

The next time you’ve got a strong Lone Star whiskey in the glass, keep the Foy Springs nearby.

A few drops might be all it takes to discover what’s been hiding in there.