Damn I fell Behind, so i gotta say a few things.
Regarding shaking: True the ice isn't in contact with the vodka or gin for long, but your hand is in contact with the metal and the metal transfers heat rather fast. Haven't you ever seen a bartender pour a martini that's a little short, so they just shake it some more and squeeze out a little extra. I think the bruising thing a a big line of horseshit, though I've heard it tossed around.
Scotch temperature: Colder is not necessaritly better, meanining over rocks or something. When drinking good scotch many prefer a single cube. It tends to not be too much but not too little.
If you want to party for real get some genuine absenthe, the wormwood will get you all f'd up (though garanteed to be followed by a severe hangover).
I like scotch. Right now my favorite is Laphroag, when I got money to burn