Cask Strength Whiskey        

Cask-strength whiskey is the same as barrel-proof or barrel-strength whiskey. Cask Strength refers to spirits that producers do not proof down when they pour them from the barrel. Since casks or barrels often mature at different proof levels, many distilleries will add water to create a consistent ABV (alcohol by volume) for their product. If a whiskey has an ABV of 52%, the proof would be 104. The proof is two times ABV. Rum producers will also release cask-strength bottles.

Minimum ABV requirements

The United States and European Union members have a legal minimum of 40% ABV or 80 proof. The United Kingdom also follows this rule. Australia allows whiskey to be classified with a minimum of 74 proof, while South Africa requires at least 86 proof for classification. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms regulates the term barrel proof on bottle labels. In America, producers can refer to a whiskey as barrel proof if they bottle it at no more than 1% alcohol by volume lower than what was in the barrel when they emptied it.

Cask Strength Whiskey is a marketing term that means the same thing as barrel proof. They empty the whiskey from the barrel and add no water to proof it down. A cask is another term for a barrel. In my experience, many cask-strength bourbons are excellent, and the flavor shows through.

A Look at some cask-strength bottles

Many American Bourbon distilleries have released cask-strength bottles over the years, and the number continues to grow. Some well-known distilleries that have released cask-strength bourbons include:

  • Buffalo Trace (with their Blanton’s Cask Strength and Elmer T. Lee Cask Strength editions)
  • Wild Turkey (with their Wild Turkey Rare Breed offering)
  • Four Roses (with their Four Roses Single Barrel Cask Strength)
  • Booker’s (part of the Jim Beam family)
  • Evan Williams (with their Evan Williams Single Barrel Cask Strength)
  • Knob Creek (with their Knob Creek Cask Strength)
  • Stagg Jr. (now known as George T. Stagg, from Buffalo Trace’s Antique Collection)

These are just a few examples, and many smaller craft distilleries across the U.S. occasionally release cask-strength editions. The cask strength trend has become more popular as bourbon enthusiasts seek stronger, more intense flavors straight from the barrel.

Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Release

This year’s release of Angel’s Envy Cask Strength is a superb bourbon whiskey finished in Ruby and Tawny Port Barrels. The flavor excites the palate, and this bourbon shines. Here is our complete video review of Angel’s Envy Cask Strength.

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