Cask Strength scotch

[bloviatrix]

Last night I tasted a Glenmorangie, cask-strength, unfiltered scotch. The stuff was like fire going down my gullet (104 proof). Anyway, no one could give me a good explanation of what "cask strength" means -- I think they had all had too much to drink. Can anyone help?

Also had a Bounahabain (sp?) 30 yr old. Good stuff!! Went great with honeyed-pecans.

[Jason Perlow]

It means that it is bottled at the alcohol stength level that comes out of the cask. Its not diluted in any way to adjust the proof level. What comes out of the cask is what is bottled.

Whisk(e)y bottled at the alcoholic strength at which it aged in cask, without being diluted with water to 40 per cent abv. In practice most is very slightly reduced in order that strength may be consistent.

[budrichard]

In reality when you get above a certain proof, the high alcohol content needs dilution by H2O for optimum taste. For tasting cask strength, we only have a tiny sip. Drinking is diluted by water.

BTW after all is said and done, we prefer JW 'Blue'. Scotch is one of those items that originally was blended to produce a satisfying product. Marketing has brought us all sorts of products and aging. Marketing has taken product that would have gone into blends and increased the profit margin. Our tasting of many Scotches has shown, that we prefer 'Blue' with a little water. Smell a glass of cask strenght Lagavulin that has dried and sat out overnight. It's as strong as smoked fish! Not objectionable but we prefer a softer product. Of course I would never turn down a single malt experience. -Dick

[bloviatrix]

Our tasting of many Scotches has shown, that we prefer 'Blue' with a little water.

Never tried Blue label. I've tasted JW Green, which I found to be ok.

When I drink scotch I like to take a sip, and swirl it around as I do with wine to get pick up the flavors. The Glenmorangie had no flavor, just fire. I could have tried an Ardbeg cask strength, but I was told it was super-smokey, which doesn't appeal to me.

I like my scotch, and can hold my alcohol pretty well. But whenever I come in contact with cask-strength, men always make a big deal about it - stating that because I'm a female, I can't handle the high alcohol content. It pisses me off.

[beans]

Our tasting of many Scotches has shown, that we prefer 'Blue' with a little water.

Never tried Blue label. I've tasted JW Green, which I found to be ok.

I LOVE JWBlue. Gold label is awfully yummy too.

I like my scotch, and can hold my alcohol pretty well.  But whenever I come in contact with cask-strength, men always make a big deal about it - stating that because I'm a female, I can't handle the high alcohol content.  It pisses me off.

boo!

Testosterone!