My preference is single malts room temp with a drop of water, Blends with one cube of ice & 3 cubes of ice for a rusty nail.

Room temp, neat. Pretty much how I drink anything.

Don't know (or care for that matter) if it's proper or not. I drink it neat at ambient temperature.

I use to drink single malts neat at room temperature all the time. Now, I almost always add 2-3 drops of water to the glass. I think the wee bit of water does open up the aroma. I use a single malt glass or a brandy snifter as I enjoy the aroma as just as important as the taste in the mouth, like good cognac.

I understand that many in Scotland drink single malts with quite a bit of water added, for what that is worth. A good friend goes over to northern England and Scotland every 1-2 years and this is what he reports the Scotch aficionados do in the country of origin.

I will also add ice to blends on occasion.

As always, drink it how you enjoy it.

Cheers,

TC

Single malts with a wee bit o' spring water. My scotch and soda: Grant's or Famous Grouse, usually, over 2 or 3 ice cubes with a hearty splash of soda from my siphon. I also have a "whisky and soda" with no ice, using colder soda water from a chilled siphon. When traveling in England and Scotland (I have family in England), I've found that most pubs/bars will bring your whisky neat with water or soda on the side (ice cubes if requested!). Most pubs/bars have water flasks on the bar itself for you to "fix" your whisky as you wish!! FTRPLT

I treat it similar to absinthe when I indulge once in a while. I drop just a smidge of cold water into it to release a little more aroma and flavor. Sometimes I like it on ice though. It really does depend on your personal taste and preferance.