If you live in the northern part of the US, Canada, or literally anywhere in the upper part of the Northern Hemisphere, you’ve likely already found yourself immersed in winter weather (even though winter doesn’t officially begin until December 21st). If you asked us, frigid, snowy, downright miserable weather calls for a warming whisky. And if you ask us, there’s no better choice for the blustery days ahead than a cask strength scotch whisky.
What does cask strength mean?
Even if you’re a whiskey drinker, there’s a chance you aren’t entirely sure what “cask strength” means. Also called barrel strength or barrel proof, cask strength is a phrase used for a whisky (or other spirit) that is bottled straight from the barrel or cask without being proofed down (to the usual 80-proof) with water.
While there’s no official alcohol volume, it’s believed by many that cask strength whiskeys are above 100-proof, but more often around 120-proof and above.
In my years of writing about (and drinking) single malt Scotch whisky (and other whiskeys), I’ve found that by not adding water to dilute the whisky, it retains more of its rich, bold, balanced flavour. The notes of vanilla, caramel, oak, spices, and candied orange peels are more pronounced than their proofed-down counterparts.
The best cask strength Scotch whiskies
Now that you’ve learned a little about the appeal of cask strength Scotch whiskies, it’s time to find some to add to your winter bar cart. Below, you’ll find our favorite expressions. Just be sure to drink them neat with a splash or two of water to open up the aromas and flavors.
Bruichladdich Octomore 14.1
Bruichladdich Octomore is not only for fans of cask strength single malt Scotch whiskies, but also for fans of heavily peated whiskies. One of its most recent releases is Octomore 14.1. Made with 100% Scottish-grown barley, this 5-year-old, 59.6% ABV peated whisky is known for its flavors of salted caramel, toasted vanilla beans, candied orange peels, and robust, swirling peat smoke. Sip it slowly and immerse yourself in the unending complexity and smoke.
$229.99
The Glenlivet Nàdurra Oloroso
There’s a reason The Glenlivet is one of the biggest names in the single malt Scotch whisky world. It makes a glut of noteworthy whiskies. One of the best is The Glenlivet Nàdurra Oloroso. This non-chill-filtered expression was aged in first-filled oloroso sherry casks. The result is a complex, cask strength sipping whisky loaded with flavors of candied orange peels, chocolate, sweet sherry, cinnamon candy, vanilla, and oak. Drink it neat, with a splash or two of water, while you sit in front of a roaring winter fire.
$82.99
Highland Park Cask Strength
With a name like Highland Park Cask Strength, there’s no masking what you’ll get when you crack open a bottle of this expression. Bottled at 63% ABV, this cask strength single malt Scotch whisky is matured mostly in sherry-seasoned American oak casks of different ages that were hand-picked by the brand’s Master Whisky Maker, Gordon Motion. This results in a multi-layered whisky filled with flavors like toasted vanilla beans, honey, heather, citrus peels, caramelized sugar, wintry spices, and robust campfire smoke. Sip it neat, with a splash or two of water on a cool winter night.
$95.95
