What are your guys favorite cask strength\ barrel proof\ full proof bourbons or ryes? I have quite a few but am always curious what everybody else likes.

Wild Turkey Rare Breed

On 9/8/2025 at 10:58 AM, Gutierrez said:

Wild Turkey Rare Breed

A favorite of mine and one I keep on hand

you know, as much as I love good liquors, high proof bourbon and rye isn't my favorite.  If I am drinking rye, it is usually in a cocktail.  If I'm drinking bourbon neat, I want something easy sipping either on its own or with a little ice or water.  I like and will drink a cask bourbon, but I'm going to throw a cube into it at which point I might as well have gotten the already watered down version at 43%.  Yes the cask versions are more complex but for how I am drinking them there is no point.  It is too overloaded in concentration of flavor and sweetness.  Especially to pay the prices needed for a lot of them.

 

Now cask scotch is another story.

Scotch!!! I was going to refrain from mentioning it but Rick did first sooooo………

 

7 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Scotch!!!

Sorry, Russ...that falls behind a good Irish Whiskey.

 

Elijah Craig does an outstanding job with their private barrels in using high proof to bring out flavor rather than crush the flavor in a wave of heat.  We have several bottles of E.C. barrel proof and private barrels that are 128 - 131 proof and they don't drink like it at all.  

Love my whisky, I am drinking same thing since college 😁, And yes that's my fish flask for my fishing trips.

 

@ATA, I have the same flask! 

On 9/10/2025 at 7:03 PM, BigAngus752 said:

Elijah Craig does an outstanding job with their private barrels in using high proof to bring out flavor rather than crush the flavor in a wave of heat.  We have several bottles of E.C. barrel proof and private barrels that are 128 - 131 proof and they don't drink like it at all.  

I've got 2 different ECBP  batchs and they are different but both very good.

 This weekend I picked up a 1792 Full Proof and a Jack Daniels single barrel barrel proof...the 1792 is very good but the Jack is a different level.

On 9/10/2025 at 9:10 AM, casts_by_fly said:

you know, as much as I love good liquors, high proof bourbon and rye isn't my favorite.  If I am drinking rye, it is usually in a cocktail.  If I'm drinking bourbon neat, I want something easy sipping either on its own or with a little ice or water.  I like and will drink a cask bourbon, but I'm going to throw a cube into it at which point I might as well have gotten the already watered down version at 43%.  Yes the cask versions are more complex but for how I am drinking them there is no point.  It is too overloaded in concentration of flavor and sweetness.  Especially to pay the prices needed for a lot of them.

 

Now cask scotch is another story.

the concentration of flavor is why I like barrel proofs. For me scotch and Irish are usually better at finesse...bourbon and rye are pure power. Both have a time and place for me.

1 hour ago, DitchPanda said:

I've got 2 different ECBP  batchs and they are different but both very good.

 This weekend I picked up a 1792 Full Proof and a Jack Daniels single barrel barrel proof...the 1792 is very good but the Jack is a different level.

the concentration of flavor is why I like barrel proofs. For me scotch and Irish are usually better at finesse...bourbon and rye are pure power. Both have a time and place for me.

if you like the concentration of flavor, then try good rums.  Right now I have the Zacapa edition ***** poured. It’s a great sipper (especially with a cigar).  The ***** is their usual solera aged in charred bourbon barrels so it adds the richer notes you get from barrel proof bourbons.  It is rum so it is a little sweeter, but compared to high proof bourbons it has the similar sweetness and flavor intensity but at a 43% alcohol that is easier to sip.  

 

Just one online retailer:

 

https://highlandswineseller.com/shop/product/ron-zacapa-edicion-negra-rum/58fe6df378c81a148a519306?option-id=82eefa605d9f0ab7c6d30bed12aa66447d31b4907821e662ca61e43b35e5e9bd&utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=feed&srsltid=AfmBOooRbBlj-u2TbfLBmlhy4xVlNkIyVrVp40QuXqdUXq0PuERc-ssspQg

23 hours ago, DitchPanda said:

Jack Daniels single barrel barrel proof

Love them!