THE PROOF IS IN THE WHISKEY

Whiskey connoisseurs are warming to the cozy heat of high-proof Bourbons, including those bottled at cask strength

- JACK BETTRIDGE

When you stroll through your favorite high-end liquor store, admiring the brown bottles of Bourbon that stretch from one end of the shelf to the other, you might find yourself searching for something a bit unusual. One element you should consider is the one that is the most basic of all: alcohol content. By seeking out a Bourbon that goes into the bottle with little in the way of additional water, you’re sampling the spirit as it tastes straight from the cask. More than a few whiskey connoisseurs will argue that such boosted alcohol concentrations are how God intended Bourbon to be enjoyed.

Bourbons often labeled with such terms as “cask strength,” “barrel proof” and “full proof” have captured discerning palates. The allure is not that they pack a punch, but that they retain so much of the whiskeys’ flavors, qualities that may be dulled at lower proofs. The swizzle-sniff-and-sip crowd is fervently seeking out elite cask-strength whiskeys meant to be savored. Despite their high-proof statements, these Bourbons can still deliver delicate qualities along with serious amounts of flavor.