Simulations showed that guaiacol is likely to be floating to the top of your glass when your whiskey is between 40 and 45 percent alcohol, which is approximately the alcohol by volume of Jack Daniels. Its presence can intensify smell and taste, but you can also give that taste a boost by adding just a tiny amount of water to your glass, as it'll push more guaiacol to the top of the drink rather than spread it throughout. If the ABV is higher than 59 percent, you'll definitely want to dilute it. Without any water at this percentage, the guaiacol is dispersing throughout the drink, causing you to miss out on that precious flavor.
Of course, regardless of what the experiment concluded, it seems that the best way to figure out your whiskey would be to experiment with dilution yourself—in moderation, of course. Had researchers gone that route instead of using computer simulations, the report may have come out illegible and incoherent, but also a lot more entertaining, right?
This article originally appeared on Men's Health