What is your favorite proof?

[Flyfish]

If you assume that alcohol carries flavor, then the higher the proof the more flavor. I enjoy barrel proof for the more concentrated flavor. You can always add water to reduce proof but there is not much you can do to increase proof. At 80 proof, bourbon tends to feel thin to me--or "subtle" if you prefer. (With that said, I do appreciate 4RYL for summer sipping out in the swing.) Tonight I am enjoying some Stagg Jr. over ice. As the ice melts, the proof declines but not enough to erase the rich, dark chocolate flavor I am appreciating just now. Last night it was Booker's. For casual drinking, BIBs and WT101 do quite well. Then there is FC--but that is mainly for South Carolina football rather than for undiluted bourbon pleasure.

[Mako254]

Four Roses cask strength barrels are may favorite and for some reason, a lot of my bottles are 53% +/- .  Some are higher and I had a great OBSO that was 51%.  

 

Rare Breed is another that I enjoy but anything over 115 or so is more than what I generally care for. 

 

Sub 100, EC and Blantons are in the rotation and I enjoy both. 

 

The only sub 90 that earns real estate in the cabinet is Evan Williams single barrel at 86.6. I'll go to the EW if I plan on having more than 2-3 ounces. 

 

So to answer, 86.6-115 seems about to be my wheelhouse. 

Edited October 26, 2017 by Mako254

[cdcdguy]

2 hours ago, fishnbowljoe said:

I'm a bit like the Boss. When I got started in this, 90 proof bourbons seemed a bit hot to me, and BIB's were almost above my threshold. As time went by, I started becoming more comfortable with higher proof stuff. As I've said before, next to my wheaters, I love me some BIB's. I've developed a very strong fondness for them over the last few years. Part of it may be my becoming more acclimated to different proofs, and part of it may be the power of suggestion. It's been said/written/posted that the "sweet" spot for bourbon is between seven to ten years of age, and around 100 proof. That might be partially why Weller Centennial and HH6 BIB are two of my favorites. I don't know what the age was on the (now discontinued) AA BIB, but it was pretty darned good too.

 

Cheers! Joe

 

 

You have made a very good point. Longer aged BIB and higher proof stuff may have less burn. To me HHBIB 6 needs almost no water, but a 4 year old would, at least for me.  A 10 year 100 proofer might not drink any hotter than a 4 year old 90 proof bourbon.  I am a wheatear too, but am having so much fun discovering all the BIBs. And many are well under 25.00.

[gurgalunas]

I find that proof vs drinkability is widely varied.  I drink nearly all bourbon neat. From BH to Bookers or Stagg Jr.  I do keep ice globes readily available for occasions when I won't be sipping only a few ounces (fantasy football draft, poker night, hunting buddies over for the weekend shoot), but I don't have a "dotted line" I won't pass without dilution, or go below without disappointment...

[Spade]

After thinking about which bottles I keep on hand the most, I’d say 100–115 is my most common range. I think 120 proof is when I’ll add water more often that not. But that’s not a hard and fast rule and depends on the whiskey and my mood.

[JoeTerp]

barrel

[Patrick_OKC]

I would say that it varies. The palate may change from day to day, so different taste profiles will be more enticing on one day, but not the next. Same thing for proof. I like to start the evening with the lowest proof that I will entertain at that moment, and then build up from that point. I apply that approach with bourbon and scotch. 

 

If I had to stay within a given range, it would probably be 86 to 100, although i have enjoyed OF 1920 for a few evenings in a row at times. 

[0895]

In the past few years, I have bought/drank a lot of barrel proof pours.  I got really into barrel proof.

Those are great, don't get me wrong.  I love a little tiny bit of a good barrel proof pour.  It's a fantastic explosion of flavor.

 

But what I've learned is that I have developed a great appreciation for something that's really good at 90-110p (cask strength or dilluted).

Doesn't burn up my palate, easy to drink all night, & still feel decent the next morning.

 

George T Stagg is still my all time favorite though.

[Paddy]

Dammit!  There sure is a lot of bloviating here! 

 

I like them all! 

[The Black Tot]

11 hours ago, kevinbrink said:

Somewhere between 107 and 115.

 yup yup yup

[musekatcher]

11 hours ago, Flyfish said:

If you assume that alcohol carries flavor, then the higher the proof the more flavor. I enjoy barrel proof for the more concentrated flavor. You can always add water to reduce proof but there is not much you can do to increase proof. At 80 proof, bourbon tends to feel thin to me--or "subtle" if you prefer. (With that said, I do appreciate 4RYL for summer sipping out in the swing.) Tonight I am enjoying some Stagg Jr. over ice. As the ice melts, the proof declines but not enough to erase the rich, dark chocolate flavor I am appreciating just now. Last night it was Booker's. For casual drinking, BIBs and WT101 do quite well. Then there is FC--but that is mainly for South Carolina football rather than for undiluted bourbon pleasure.

 

My first swig of better Bourbon was WT101.  At first I was spooked by the 101 proof, visualizing melting flesh blocking my airway, but to my surprise, it was much smoother and enjoyable than whatever rotgut it replaced.  I learned right then that proof can be an inverse of gag index. 80 proof is too thin, and even bitter, like weak tea in many cases.  You could fool a lot of folks in a blindfold test with some stinker 80 proofs and WT101 which is the higher proof.   I like higher proofs up to barrel strength because they have more flavor, and in most cases are just better/smoother/lessrough products.     My favorites considering flavor and PTQ are all in the 90-114 range.  Above 114, PTQ becomes a factor for me.  If I had to narrow that range, 100 proof would be my choice.

Edited October 27, 2017 by musekatcher

[Dravin]

I'm still in the dialing in my preferred flavors phase and I've not encountered anything that's made me say, "I wish this was higher proof." What bourbon I've got on hand is all 90 proof though, so it could just be that 90 is my sweet spot and I just don't recognize it.

Edited October 27, 2017 by Dravin

[Radioyada]

I don't have a favorite proof.  As long as the bourbon is delicious and worth drinking it is all my favorite.

[jvd99]

My fav is around 110