Skip to main content

9 Best American Barrel Proof Whiskeys to Drink Now

There’s nothing better than visiting a distillery warehouse and sampling some whiskey straight from the barrel. The heady smell that surrounds you, the cool, musty temperature, the high-proof, unfiltered taste of the liquid … for whiskey fans, this is a divine experience. Fortunately, many brands try to give consumers the next best thing by bottling barrel-proof expressions that have not been watered down to lower the alcohol before bottling. Some barrel-proof whiskeys are minimally filtered to remove bits of char left over from the cask, while others are completely unfiltered.

The great thing about barrel-proof whiskey is not that it’s going to get you drunk really fast, although that’s certainly true. No, the joy in these whiskies is that the flavor and nose are not tamped down by the addition of water, making this the ultimate whiskey drinking experience. Of course, you can lower the ABV of barrel-proof whiskey yourself if you wish by adding some water or ice. But it’s best to at least taste it on its own first — even the hottest whiskeys ranging above 130 proof can be surprisingly easy to drink if they are high-quality spirits. Here are nine barrel-proof American whiskeys to drink now.

Related Videos

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon – $50

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon

Heaven Hill’s Elijah Craig expression is a reliable and inexpensive bourbon choice, even though the 12-year-old age statement was removed a few years ago to the dismay of many bourbon fans. The Barrel Proof version of Elijah Craig, however, still retains that age statement, and is non-chill filtered with a proof that ranges from the 120s all the way up to the mid-130s, depending on the batch. There are a few batches released every year. The higher proofs can be a lot to handle, but even with that much heat and bite they are still generally very drinkable, and an ice cube or a bit of water can bring it down to your preferred level.

Booker’s – $80

Booker’s

The final batch of 2019 Booker’s, called Beaten Biscuits, was just released. Every year there are several batches that hit store shelves, and to be honest they are all pretty similar — barrel-proof, uncut, unfiltered Jim Beam bourbon aged for around six years and hovering somewhere around 122-126 proof. But what these releases lack in diversity they make up for in quality. Sure, there are minor differences — a bit more vanilla here, a touch of spice there, some stronger candied fruit notes now and then. Overall, this is dependable cask-strength bourbon for those who like it hot and heavy.

Andalusia Whiskey PX Sherry Finish – $125 for a set of three

Andalusia Whiskey PX Sherry Finish

Texas is a big whiskey state, but Andalusia Whiskey Co. is a small distillery there making some very good whiskey. There are three expressions, all 100 proof single malts — Revenant Oak (lightly peated), Stryker (made with malted barley smoked with oak, mesquite, and applewood), and the core Triple-Distilled expression. This trio is available as a gift set at the distillery, with a twist — all are finished in PX sherry barrels and bottled at cask strength, giving some sweet candied fruit and spice notes to the whiskey along with a nice dose of heat. Future barrel-proof releases will include whiskey finished in Mount Gay Rum and Haak Madeira barrels.

Cowboy Bourbon – ($200-$250)

Cowboy Bourbon
Adam Voorhes

Garrison Brothers is another Texas distillery with a hearty barrel-proof expression. The 2019 release of its Cowboy Bourbon clocks in at a very hefty 137.3 proof, so drink this with care. The whiskey was selected by master distiller Donnis Todd from barrels distilled in 2012-2014, which were pulled for the distillery’s single barrel program after four years of aging. From these, Todd picked 140 barrels which he calls “piggy banks,” and these were emptied and mingled for six months last March. Look for notes of Manhattan street-cart roasted walnuts, pipe tobacco, and Arabica coffee, according to Todd. 6,440 bottles were released.

Penelope Bourbon Barrel Strength – $35

Penelope Bourbon Barrel Strength

Penelope Bourbon is a young, non-chill filtered whiskey (2-3 years old) distilled at MGP in Indiana and blended and bottled at Castle & Key in Kentucky. This is a pretty easy drinking whiskey, with a barrel proof of 116.6. The recipe is comprised of four grains instead of the more common three, adding wheat to the corn, rye, and malted barley recipe, and is a blend of three different MGP bourbon mash bills. Experienced bourbon drinkers may be looking for something a bit more complex, but this is a good entry point for beginners in the barrel proof whiskey category.

Barrell Bourbon Batch 022 – $90

Barrell Bourbon Batch 022

Barrell Bourbon continues its successful run of sourcing and blending bourbon with this latest batch of bourbon, number 22. This one is a bit younger than your usual Barrell release, at just five years old. But that’s just further proof that age doesn’t necessarily equal quality in whiskey, as these Kentucky and Indiana-distilled bourbons pulled from four separate lots are blended together to create a rich and fruity flavor profile with a proof of 116.6.

Angel’s Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 2019 Cask Strength – $200

Angel's Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 2019 Cask Strength

Angel’s Envy’s latest annual cask strength release was finished in port barrels, as is the core expression, and bottled at 122.4 proof. The finish adds dry spice and sweet prune notes to this already tasty bourbon, which is released in limited quantities. Fans of regular Angel’s Envy looking for a bit more flavor should try this, as the higher ABV brings out a bit more depth of flavor and intensity than the regular 86.6 proof version.

Templeton Rye Barrel Strength Straight Rye Whiskey 2019 Edition – $60

Templeton Rye Barrel Strength Straight Rye Whiskey 2019 Edition

Yes, Templeton has gotten a bad rap over the years for not being forthcoming about where the whiskey is sourced from, acting like this was the same recipe that Al Capone used to drink, etc. That’s sort of changed, although a look around the website doesn’t immediately indicate the fact that the whiskey is distilled at MGP (something that should be a source of pride — MGP makes great whiskey). There is a new distillery up and running now, which is producing whiskey that will be bottled a few years down the road. In the meantime, you can sip some of this 115.8 proof rye that has all the hallmarks of good MGP rye — spicy, fruity, sweet, and full of caramel and oak notes.

King of Kentucky – $250

King of Kentucky

This barrel-proof bourbon from Brown-Forman returned this summer for its second release as a 15-year-old whiskey bottled at 131.3 proof. This is another rich and fierce cask-strength bourbon, full of caramel and oak flavors. The brand is based on an old name acquired by B-F in the 1930s and discontinued in 1968, at which time it was a blend. Now it’s back at full volume, and according to master distiller Chris Morris future release volumes will be determined based on the availability of barrels.

Editors' Recommendations

5 food and drink trends the experts wish would just go away
Food trends can be fun, but these are a few we're totally over
food and drink trends that should die in 2023 molecular gastronomy

We all love food trends. There's something exciting about being in on the fun and chatting knowingly about delicious newcomers like butter boards and cloud bread. Every now and then, it's good to jump on the bandwagon because you may find you love something you might not have otherwise tried if not for TikTok or Instagram. We're all for unique experiences and constantly learning and trying new things. Sometimes, though, these trends outstay their welcome. Sometimes, they just won't take the hint, which means it's time to drop the nice manners and scoot them out the door. We've chatted with some experts in the food world to find out which of these trends they're most eager to see go, and we have to admit — we couldn't agree more.

Molecular gastronomy
Marissa Johnson, professional event planner and founder of Inflatable Blast, says, "This trend has been around for a while, and it's time for it to go. We're all for experimentation in the kitchen, but some of the 'molecular' dishes we've seen look more like science experiments than food."

Read more
The 5 best low-calorie drinks to order at the bar
Low-calorie drinks: Put down the light beer. You're better than that.
Paloma

It's inevitable. With the new year now well underway, most of us will at least be flirting with the idea of getting back into shape after the sugar-filled holiday season. For better or worse, those cookies were delicious, Mom's gravy was silky smooth and decadent, and the mulled wine was flowing. There are plenty of good reasons to clean up our diets come January, whether the goal is to drop a few pounds, or just cleanse our bodies of all of those sugar plums. Some even opt for a Dry January, entirely abstaining from alcohol for the whole of what feels like the coldest, darkest month of the year. If that's your thing, more power to you! We salute you. But for those of us with slightly less willpower who still want to tidy up our systems, there are other, less extreme alternatives.

Simply opting for low-calorie alcoholic drinks is a perfectly reasonable compromise. Instead of a creamy, whipped indulgence with a candy cane rim, maybe just order a vodka soda. A diet gin and tonic sure feels crisp, light, and refreshing after consuming all of Uncle Marv's eggnog. The trick is knowing these healthier alternatives and being prepared when the bartender heads your way.

Read more
The best (and worst) stadium food in the US, ranked
Betting.com analyzed over 100,000 reviews to bring you the best and the worst foods at U.S. sports arenas
Baseball food — chili dog and chili fries.

The beginning of winter is a time for sports highlights. Baseball is in the midst of free agency, the NBA season features marquee matchups throughout the holidays, and the NFL is tilting toward the playoffs. Whether it’s in your hometown or an excursion on the road, heading to a sporting event is an iconic way to experience a locale. Sports stadiums like to show off local culture, and there are few better ways to do this than with stadium food.

M&R Glasgow
The best stadium food

Read more