Favourite cask strength whiskies

Nice one @conorrob! Lets get them all in one place.

Do you mean the standard distillery bottlings, or also the independent? Because then the list would be endless and a lot of the IB's would be sold out, thus unobtainable.

O, and for others: please include bourbons in your suggestions.

Here is one you all know: the A'Bunadh.

@wtrstrnghlt I'm thinking standard distilleries only. I just know that its hard to find information on good cask strength whisky/whiskey.

@conorrob Great topic. I love Laphroaig CS batch 002. It's a fantastic bottle if you enjoy Laphroaig's. .

@tjb I totally agree Laphroaig Cask Strength (any batch) is probably my favorite. I also love Ardbeg Uigeadail and Corry - the problem is that they are not necessarily "Cask Strength." Sure 57% and 54.2% sound like cask strength . . . but they might not be. It is also possible that the number is incorrect - shock, shock!

Really, I will buy cask strength every time if I can. The more difficult question . . . what regular ABV bottle do you like better then the cask strength alternative?

Two I've tried tie for the honor.

The first is an OB, but as rare as many IBs. It was the first Arran 1996 Sherry Cask from the distillery's Premium Cask Selection series bottled exclusively for the USA market. Cask #1785, distilled 06th November 1996, bottled 31st March 2011, 56%, 165 bottles.

The other is Bruichladdich Octomore 04.2 Comus.

To add perspective, Laphroaig's first "Original Cask Strength" (before batch numbers) and Batches 4 & 5 fall one rung down the ladder from my two favorites.

I haven't disliked too make CS drams. My favourites have included A'Bunadh, especially the recent 44, Springbanks 12 yo regular and claret wood versions, and who can forget Amrut Portonova and Intermediate Sherry?

Bladnoch puts out 55% drams! but they are not CS so don't count here. I do have one bottle of 10 YO CC Blafnoch that one day, I will really look forward to trying.

Almost all CS wiskies I tried were great. My fav trio so far: Ardbeg Corryvreckan, Port Charlotte PC8, Aberlour A'bunadh

@two-bit-cowboy I agree that "some" of the older Cask Strength Laphroaigs were amazing. The problem was that there was no way to tell batch variation. I had a bottle I bought in 2005 that blew my mind. The last bottle I had just before the change to batch numbers was bitter and slightly off. I'll take the batch numbers any day to avoid that kind of thing. I believe that one of these batches will become the stuff of legend . . . it probably just hasn't come out yet.

I have to get in on this ! Never really heard much on the Laphoaigs so this is a god send !

Have I ever met a cask strength/barrel proof whisk(e)y that I didn't like? Yes, if they were sulphur-tainted, bitter-oaked, over-aired, or from bar samples, where you don't know the history and treatment of the whisky, so they are likely to be over-air-exposed. So-so or worse whiskies usually do not generate either from producers or from consumers a demand for the pure undiluted juice. So the really crappy whiskies usually remain at low ABV. I have, however, tasted quite a few crappy old cask strength malts with too much oak, bitterness, or bad sherry casks. I have to agree with Jim Murray that unfortunately there is a whole generation of sales reps, consumers, and even distillery personnel who have never tasted good sherried malt whisky, and do not know the difference between a sulphured malt and a clean one.

Favourites? "How could I pick a favourite? I love all of my children equally." No, scratch that, I really don't love all of my whiskies equally. I have at least 40 or 50 favourites, though.

You want to hear about Scotch, I believe. There I would pick Bruichladdich Octomore Orpheus 2.2, Ardbeg Supernova or Supernova 2010, a top-notch (only) batch of Uigeadail, a numbered batch of Laphroaig 10 YO Cask Strength, Lagavulin 12 YO 2010 release, various of the batches of A'bunadh, including # 26 and 32, among many others, NAS Macallan Cask Strength USA release (after it is well-opened up), a VERY FRESHLY OPENED bottle of Glenlivet Nadurra (or 2011 Auchentoshan Valinch. I don't think that YOU will like Valinch or any other Auchentoshan, @conorrob), Kilchoman 60.3% ABV Single Barrel from Red Dog Wine and Spirits, Nashville, TN, and Talisker 57 Degrees North (slightly less than Cask Strengh at 57% abv).

My cask strength/barrel proof picks for bourbon, rye, and Irish Whiskey are on my various Desert Island Lists...and on my profile page list of favourites, of course.

CS whiskies are a weakness of mine. While there are too many stars to list there are a few that stand out for me.

The first is the awesome George T Stagg (at 71.4% the highest ABV I've ever drunk). Then in no particular order : Amrut Portonova (it's 60.2% but it doesn't say CS on the bottle, though, so I'm not sure it counts). Glenfarclas 105 20 Years. The high strength Uigeadail & Corry. The Glenlivet Nadurra 16. The Macallan 10 Cask Strength (my first cask strength experience).

I know there are more but these ones come to mind first.

Oh yeah I'm a cask strength freak! Love many of the Aberlour Abunadh batches, Thomas H Handy, George T Stagg, Longrow 7 year old Gajo Barolo, any of the Kavalan Solist, but specifically the sherry cask. Lagavulin 12 yr old is brilliant!

From there we move into the high abvs, but really aren't cask strength as they've been brought down to that abv for one reason or another, so Overeem Sherry Cask Strength (60%) is always a favorite of mine, Glenfarclas 40 yr old 105 is awesome as well! Ardbeg Uggy and Corry are lovely.

@tjb @Nock love to get your thoughts on the Laph cask strength, ive found that there is more complexity with the cask strength and sweeter fruitier flavours are ramped up. However, if im after simpler (not the right word), i think the standard 10 is better for a full on peat blast.

thoughts?

@Volks I think there is a lot of merit in what you are saying. The Laphroaig 10 is my first love and has a very special place in my cabinet. I always like to have a bottle in stock and would agree with your comment. It is definately a go to bottles for me. it never fails. The Quarter cask is also excellent and in terms of value is hard to beat. I have a Laphroaig batch 2 and 3 open plus a 4 and 5 unopened. The 2 and 3 are big punchy bottles and are right up there for me.

A''Bunadh & Uigeadial are also big favourites. I imagine @nock, yourself and I might have some similar favs.

Since @conorrob started this great topic...What about American high proof bottles? These have ABV of Single Malt cask strengths. I am a novice in this area and would be interested in hearing people's thoughts and recommendations.

@Volks I love the Laphroaig 10yo. It is quite simply the standard of my grading scale. And I think it is amazingly consistent. I can't think of the last time I was out of a bottle. The CS version is FAR more complex. I agree that it is more sweet then the standard 10yo. It has more vanilla, more fruit, but I also think it has more peat and smoke. The standard still has tons of peat and smoke but no where near as much fruit and sweetness (including vanilla). I think of the standard 10yo as my favorite don't-think-about-it-drink-it Islay malt whisky. And I love it for that. And I am so glad to be able to get the 43% ABV here in the US. But I also will always keep a CS version open as well.

@tjb I have loved all the batch releases. None have been quite as amazing as the best of the pre-batch bottles . . . but i won't look back. I think my favorite is currently either 002 or 004. That said, I just picked up 005 and I'm waiting to crack it open!

Yes, I love Uigeadail (I doubt you will find a bigger or more dedicated fan) and I adore the Corry and I actually think I prefer it to the Uigeadail these days (perhaps I have had a little too much Uigeadail lately?). I like the extra ABV of the Corry and the spice from the European Oak.

I also love George T. Stagg . . . it is my favorite American Whisky. And I would take any barrel proof bottle of the Antique Collection I could get. I love Stagg Jr. (I don't care what all the experts say - it rocks for me). I like Elijah Craig Barrel Proof a great deal. It has really grown on me - still like Stagg Jr. more.

@Victor has shared some AMAZING Cask Strength Ryes with me (Abraham Bowman and an 18yo Willett - you won't ever find either). But that lets me know to keep my eye out for Cask Strength/Barrel Proof versions of A. Bowman and Willett. Old Granddad 114 is fun in a wild and raw kind of way. I like Old Weller Antique 107 a great deal for the money.

@tjb, American Barrel Proof whiskeys (US language for 'cask strength') come in standard and special release versions. There are far more of both types available in recent years than there were, say, 20 years ago. Most of the big US distilleries now sell an intermediate age bourbon at Barrel Strength. For Jim Beam Booker's is 6-8 years old and usually 61 to 65% ABV, undiluted and unfiltered. Booker's has been around for 20 years. Also from Beam is the very lightly diluted Knob Creek Single Barrel, at a standardised 60% ABV. Buffalo Trace has just started releasing Stagg Jr, an 8 to 9 YO bourbon at around 67.2% ABV. The new Elijah Craig 12 YO Barrel Proof, from Heaven Hill, is not yet confirmed, but likely to become a standard release. The two current batches are at 67.1% and 68.5% ABV. You may have noticed that your Wild Turkey Rare Breed is labeled Barrel Proof also, at a variable proof, which could be anywhere from mid 50s to 65% abv. My understanding is that Rare Breed mixes 4,8, and 12 YO bourbon together. Rare Breed is a standard line bourbon, regularly available. A.Smith Bowman distillery in Fredericksburg, Virginia has the Abraham Bowman Bourbons, some of which are sold at Barrel Proof, so far that has been eg at 68% abv and 73.75% abv. (yes, that is a real monster, virtually unimaginable to malt drinkers)

In the special release categories, which are often highly allocated whiskeys, you have the Annual Four Roses Limited Edition, Barrel Proof whiskeys, the three Sazerac Company/Buffalo Trace Distillery Antique Collection Whiskeys Thomas H. Handy Rye, William Larue Weller (wheated bourbon), and George T. Stagg. Also there are a few barrels of Barrel Proof Willett Family Estate Bourbons and Ryes which come available infrequently through some of the better vendors. Many of Heaven Hill's Parker's Heritage Collection whiskeys are also sold at Barrel Proof.

Most of these undiluted whiskeys, especially the special releases, you have to look for. In the US prices are kept down for MOST of them, but getting any is often a highly political and very competitive and uncertain process. Just read the posts of many US connosr members who have never gotten a taste of many of these borbons and ryes. Outside the US usually there is small but very expensive supply that you have to jump on, if you want it.

Private message me if you want to get more specific about these.

@tjb @Nock yeh i agree, the 10 is full on and peaty, while the CS has a bit more contrast for sure, cheers for that!

In terms of adding to this discussion lots of the big ones have been mentioned, but id put Auchentoshan Valinch, Nika from the Barrel and given ive just reviewed it, il add Lagavulin 12 to the mix. Also, this might be pushing the envelope a bit far but I've had a few single cask GlenDronachs and one was very good, the other 4 were superb. I only mention them as casks are release fairly regularly each year

The Caol Ila CS and especially the Lagavulin 12 made a big impression on me, they're HUGE. Great alternative if you cant find the Laphroaig. Also the AD Rattray Bomore 21 at 55% is absolutely spectacular, but way more expensive.

@tjb Have you tried the Laph Cask 003 and 002 side by side? Which do you like better? I would be interested to hear how you compare the 003 with the 004. Portland Oregon is out of 003 so I'm wondering what will come down the pike next. The 004 or 005. I've heard the 004 is more like QC than the 003, which is less woody. I can't compare since I've only tasted the 003, and of course, other offerings like QC, Three Wood, 10, and 18.