Absolutely a travesty. Ice is worse, especially when talking about a fine single malt (Islay preferred) - just a wee bit of water to cut the burn.
I have not scrolled through the posts yet, but I am encouraged by the outpouring of sentiment.
A decent single malt is nice with a little cracked ice allowed to melt, same thing you’re saying essentially but the flavor is somehow different. The whole “neat” thing arose two decades or so ago with new-found single malt snobbery coming from people who had never drank it before, and doing ridiculous things like dipping their Cohibas in it.
I’m not sure I like Islay whiskey, but I know I want to like them. Had some Ardbeg 10 at the Whiskey Museum in Edinburgh a few weeks ago, and it was solid, but not my favorite. Picked up some Johnnie Walker Double Black, and that stuff had some all around goodness. Smooth, deep, a little smoke, a little sea. Nice. Too many good whiskies out there.
And I’d rather drink them alone, or with one friend at a time, than “loosening up” at a party. Sit quietly, with a book, or a lake, or fireflies, or a fire, and spend an hour sipping good scotch or Knob Creek bourbon.
I drink more than some, but I don’t need it anymore than I need a cheeseburger. Just another vice. No problem in its time and place.