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A tiny drop of water can change the way your whiskey tastes. When you add water to water to whiskey, you are changing the flavor at the molecular level. Fine whiskey includes a delicate balance of tastes which are born of molecules such as guaiacol which results when malted barley is smoked on peat fires. The right kinds of water mixed in the right proportions can unlock some of these molecules from the ethanol bringing them to the surface and thus making a huge difference in the flavor of your whiskey.
You probably buy your favorite whiskey because the first time you tasted it you fell in love. Subsequent bottles by the same maker will have different compounds based on the precise distillation process, natural variations in the core ingredients, the character of the barrel and even the humidity and temperature which occurred during the whiskey's lifetime. You will be amazed how the right kind of water in the right amount will bring back that flavor profile you fell in love with.
Around the world water contains different mineral profiles; but you already know this, water is the key ingredient in the whiskeys you love so much. Because water can unlock key molecules from within the alcohol of the whiskey and bring to the surface desirable flavor profiles both the amount and composition of that water are key in assuring you can experience your whiskey the way you first did when you fell in love with it.
Typical bourbon whiskey in the U.S. is typically diluted at the distillery to 40% by volume and over time, in the bottle, the water and alcohol take on a uniform distribution. Adding the right drops of water in the right amount results in both a chemical and a structural change to the whiskey. You will find that a few drops will open up your best whiskey for 15-20 minutes. Too little will have a less significant effect and too much results in dilution akin to melting cubes of ice. Once you determine the perfect amount for your glass by careful experimentation, you will find that this amount will be very predictable for the remainder of the bottle.
As you will find that the mineral composition of the water you use and the amount will both have a significant effect on the flavor profile of each unique bottle of whiskey, you have some homework to do before sharing your precious bottle with guests. The most intense profile will be found at room temperature but some will prefer to cool their whiskey using chilled stones or metal cubes. From here it's best to choose a water that matches the nature of the whiskey profile you are looking for. Water from the Nordic regions is typically more alkaline and mineral intense with portions having been trapped in ice for millennia while water from tropical regions has seen more exposure to fauna and soil resulting in a milder flavor and neutral PH.
Do your homework, we know this kind of work is difficult, to find the ideal type and amount of water for a particular bottle you will need to drink several glasses. First determine the key amount of water that provides the best flavor profile and then with your second or third glass, determine how the combinations of waters from different origins will allow you to fine tune to the perfect glass of whiskey.