All the new make spirits were diluted down to 20% ABV which we were told is the standard tasting strength. As for putting into your hands, that sounds like a plan for a whisky hand sanitiser!Did you taste new make? We've done that on various distillery tours before and it is FIREY!
the other trick we were taught in distillery tours for getting the aroma of whisky without the alcohol burn (or intoxication) was too put a few drops on your palm, then rub your hands together, then cup them over your nose and take in the aroma... It smells devine!