Neat, first. Pour a measure and give it a minute — a good Scotch says most of what it has to say before you add anything.
Then a drop of water. Still, room-temperature water opens up the nose and softens the spirit. Add it slowly; you can't take it back out.
A good glass helps. Something tulip-shaped draws the aromas towards you — a tumbler looks the part but lets them drift off.
Storing it. Upright, out of direct sun, cap tight. It won't age in the bottle the way wine does, but it's not frozen in time either — a fresh blend can take a little while to marry, and a half-finished bottle will drift a touch over the months. Nothing to fuss over.
