When you take a look around the liquor store shelf, you will see a large selection of whiskeys, all of different strengths. While some describe the strength in percent, others do it by proof. What does this mean? And what is typical for whiskey? I tracked down the proofs of the top 100 whiskeys (source), and here is what I found:
The most popular whiskeys are on average about 85.6 proof, or 42.8% Alcohol by Volume (ABV). While most whiskeys will be at least 80 proof (40% ABV), as required by labeling regulations, some flavored whiskeys may have slightly lower alcohol content.
What does “proof” mean?
In alcohol, a spirit’s proof is twice its alcohol content by volume. So, for example, if a spirit is 50% alcohol, it would be 100 proof. While it seems that more and more spirits are transitioning to the more easily understood ABV measure, using proof for labeling liquor is a holdover from centuries ago, when the flammability of a spirit was used as “proof” of it’s alcohol content.
What are the lowest and highest proof whiskeys?
According to the Code of Federal Regulations, whiskey must be “distilled at less than 95 percent alcohol by volume (190° proof)… and bottled at not less than 40 percent alcohol by volume (80° proof)”.
Lowest: While certain flavored whiskeys like Fireball are able to undercut the 80 proof requirement due to some loopholes in the regulations as well as different international labeling laws, the lowest ethanol content you will see from a “true” whiskey will be 40% ABV. Nearly all of the most popular whiskeys stay in the 80-90 proof range, near the bottom of these requirements, likely due to the smoother drinking experience that it provides.
Highest: Even though many distillers stay to the bottom of the ABV requirements, some like to push the limits. The highest proof whiskey that I was able to find on the market is George T. Stagg Barrel Proof Bourbon. The proof on this brand varies year to year, but it get up to about 142 proof, or 71% ABV.
What is barrel proof or cask strength whiskey?
Similar to the George T. Stagg whiskey above, you may see bottles in the liquor store that are labeled as “barrel proof”, “cask strength”, or some variation therein. What these terms mean is that these whiskeys are bottled (you guessed it) straight from the barrel, or at least at the same strength that they come out of the barrel. There are a few things to know about cask-strength whiskey:
- It’s strong: Water evaporates from whiskey as it ages, so most whiskey is diluted with water to about 80-90 proof before going into bottling. This also helps the distiller have a much more consistent proof to their spirits. Barrel strength whiskey is bottled at the same strength that it comes out of the barrel, meaning that it will be both stronger than your typical whiskey (generally around 120 proof or 60% ABV), but its strength is also more prone to variation from year to year.
- It may be cloudy: Cask strength whiskey is often not filtered as much as traditional whiskey, to remove some of the extremely fine particles. That is to say, if your cask-strength whiskey appears cloudy, that is not a flaw or problem, but simply a symptom of it being less processed than other spirits.
- It’s expensive: While diluting the whiskey does help get a more consistent product for the distillers, it also helps stretch their supply to more bottles, making it more affordable for the consumer. When distillers bottle barrel strength whiskey, there is more whiskey per bottle than in a non-cask strength bottle. For that reason, these varieties tend to be more expensive to buy.
Conclusion
Like most hard liquors, whiskey has a minimum strength of 80 proof (40% ABV). While some extremely strong brands have been distilled up to 184 proof (92% ABV), most whiskeys will be around 80-90 proof. “Cask-strength” whiskey will often be slightly higher, likely getting up to around 120 proof (60% ABV).
Top 100 Whiskey Proofs
| No. | Name | Proof | % ABV |
| 1 | Jameson Irish Whiskey | 80 | 40 |
| 2 | Bulleit Bourbon | 90 | 45 |
| 3 | Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey | 80 | 40 |
| 4 | Fireball Cinnamon Whisky | 66 | 33 |
| 5 | Maker’s Mark Bourbon Whisky | 90 | 45 |
| 6 | Jim Beam Bourbon Whiskey | 80 | 40 |
| 7 | Basil Hayden’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | 80 | 40 |
| 8 | Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | 90.4 | 45.2 |
| 9 | Johnnie Walker Black Label Blended Scotch Whisky | 80 | 40 |
| 10 | Crown Royal Fine Deluxe Blended Canadian Whisky | 80 | 40 |
| 11 | Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey | 70 | 35 |
| 12 | Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | 100 | 50 |
| 13 | Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey | 70 | 35 |
| 14 | Bulleit Rye | 90 | 45 |
| 15 | Buffalo Trace Bourbon | 90 | 45 |
| 16 | Crown Royal Regal Apple Flavored Whisky | 70 | 35 |
| 17 | Evan Williams Bourbon | 86 | 43 |
| 18 | Johnnie Walker Red Label Blended Scotch Whisky | 80 | 40 |
| 19 | Wild Turkey 101 | 101 | 50.5 |
| 20 | The Glenlivet 12 Year | 80 | 40 |
| 21 | Suntory Toki Japanese Whisky | 86 | 43 |
| 22 | Tullamore D. E. W. Irish Whiskey | 80 | 40 |
| 23 | Crown Royal Vanilla Flavored Whisky | 70 | 35 |
| 24 | Crown Royal Peach Flavored Whisky | 70 | 35 |
| 25 | Jack Daniel’s Gentleman Jack Tennessee Whiskey | 80 | 40 |
| 26 | Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon | 94 | 47 |
| 27 | Four Roses Bourbon | 80 | 40 |
| 28 | The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old | 86 | 43 |
| 29 | Crown Royal Black Blended Canadian Whisky | 90 | 45 |
| 30 | Basil Hayden’s Dark Rye Whiskey | 80 | 40 |
| 31 | Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon | 93 | 46.5 |
| 32 | Hibiki Japanese Harmony Whisky | 86 | 43 |
| 33 | Monkey Shoulder Blended Scotch | 86 | 43 |
| 34 | Maker’s 46 Bourbon Whisky | 90 | 45 |
| 35 | Jim Beam Black Extra Aged Bourbon Whiskey | 86 | 43 |
| 36 | Eagle Rare 10yr Bourbon | 90 | 45 |
| 37 | Angel’s Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | 86.6 | 43.3 |
| 38 | Crown Royal Salted Caramel Flavored Whisky | 70 | 35 |
| 39 | Jameson Black Barrel | 80 | 40 |
| 40 | Laphroaig 10 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky | 86 | 43 |
| 41 | Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey | 80 | 40 |
| 42 | High West American Prairie Bourbon Whiskey | 92 | 46 |
| 43 | Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon | 90 | 45 |
| 44 | Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire Flavored Whiskey | 70 | 35 |
| 45 | Southern Comfort Original | 70 | 35 |
| 46 | Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | 90.4 | 45.2 |
| 47 | The Balvenie 12 Year Old DoubleWood Single Malt Scotch Whisky | 80 | 40 |
| 48 | Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Whiskey | 100 | 50 |
| 49 | Jameson Cold Brew | 60 | 30 |
| 50 | The Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky | 86 | 43 |
| 51 | Breckenridge Bourbon Whiskey | 86 | 43 |
| 52 | Chivas Regal 12 Year | 80 | 40 |
| 53 | Knob Creek Rye Whiskey | 100 | 50 |
| 54 | Weller Special Reserve Bourbon | 90 | 45 |
| 55 | Canadian Club Whisky | 80 | 40 |
| 56 | Redemption Straight Rye Whiskey | 92 | 46 |
| 57 | Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon | 100 | 50 |
| 58 | TX Blended Whiskey | 82 | 41 |
| 59 | E. H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Bourbon | 100 | 50 |
| 60 | Rittenhouse Rye | 100 | 50 |
| 61 | Larceny Small Batch | 92 | 46 |
| 62 | Old Forester 86 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky | 86 | 43 |
| 63 | Legent Bourbon Whiskey | 94 | 47 |
| 64 | Wild Turkey American Honey | 71 | 35.5 |
| 65 | Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple Flavored Whiskey | 70 | 35 |
| 66 | High West Double Rye Whiskey | 92 | 46 |
| 67 | Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition | 80 | 40 |
| 68 | Michter’s US-1 Kentucky Straight Rye | 84.8 | 42.4 |
| 69 | Wild Turkey Longbranch | 86 | 43 |
| 70 | Glenfiddich 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky | 80 | 40 |
| 71 | Knob Creek Smoked Maple Bourbon Whiskey | 90 | 45 |
| 72 | Johnnie Walker White Walker Blended Scotch Whisky | 83.4 | 41.7 |
| 73 | Bushmills Irish Whiskey | 80 | 40 |
| 74 | Fireball Sleeve | 66 | 33 |
| 75 | Glenmorangie Original 10 Year Old Single Malt Whisky | 86 | 43 |
| 76 | 1792 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | 93.7 | 46.85 |
| 77 | Willett Pot Still Reserve Bourbon | 94 | 47 |
| 78 | Hochstadter’s Slow & Low Rock and Rye | 84 | 42 |
| 79 | The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve | 80 | 40 |
| 80 | Oban 14 Year Single Malt | 86 | 43 |
| 81 | The Macallan Sherry Oak 12 Years Old | 86 | 43 |
| 82 | Nikka Whisky From The Barrel | 102.8 | 51.4 |
| 83 | Michter’s US-1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon | 91.4 | 45.7 |
| 84 | Clan Macgregor Scotch | 80 | 40 |
| 85 | Redbreast 12 Year | 80 | 40 |
| 86 | Buchanan’s DeLuxe Aged 12 Years Blended Scotch Whisky | 80 | 40 |
| 87 | Wild Turkey Bourbon | 81 | 40.5 |
| 88 | Johnnie Walker Double Black Label Blended Scotch Whisky | 80 | 40 |
| 89 | Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey | 90.4 | 45.2 |
| 90 | Booker’s Bourbon | 124.4 | 62.2 |
| 91 | Hudson Bourbon Whiskey | 92 | 46 |
| 92 | TINCUP American Whiskey | 84 | 42 |
| 93 | Sazerac Rye Whiskey | 90 | 45 |
| 94 | Glenfiddich Bourbon Barrel Reserve 14 Year | 86 | 43 |
| 95 | Four Roses Small Batch Select Bourbon | 104 | 52 |
| 96 | Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition | 80 | 40 |
| 97 | Jim Beam Devil’s Cut Bourbon Whiskey | 90 | 45 |
| 98 | Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Whiskey | 93 | 46.5 |
| 99 | Barrell Dovetail Whiskey | 122.9 | 61.45 |
| 100 | Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky | 90 | 45 |
Whisky Will’s the name and Scotch is my game! I am obsessed with whiskeys, bourbons, and scotches and love to write about them. Whisky Grotto is my playground where I educate the world about whisky, bartending, and more. So, keep sipping your drink and have a good time!