Expert Bartenders Recommed the Best Cask Strength Whiskeys

Bernheim Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey

Not all barrel-proof whiskeys are overly boozy. This gem from Bernheim leverages the sweetness of winter wheat to lend balance to the amplified alcohol content. According to Conner Hargesheimer, bartender at Nickel City in Austin, “Bernheim Wheat is a more delicate pour, but an absolute flavor bomb. Full of baking spices and maple notes, this is what I’ll be pouring for guests as we get into the fall.”

Booker’s Barry’s Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Each new expression of Booker’s is eagerly anticipated by whiskey collectors. They embody the range of flavors, aromas, and textures that the best U.S. whiskeys can achieve. This one, its first release of 2025, is a favorite of Anthony Aviles, director of food and beverage at The Rittenhouse in Philadelphia.

“Earlier this year, a good friend gifted me a bottle of Booker’s Barry’s Batch, and I really enjoyed it. True to the Beam style…it delivers big, bold flavors with notes of brown sugar, burnt honey, and cinnamon,” he says. “It’s got a touch of heat, but nothing overpowering, making it a really approachable pour for whiskey drinkers. And at $100 a bottle, it’s a great gift.”

W.L. Weller Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Weller, one of the many jewels in the Buffalo Trace crown, may be difficult to find in some places, but it’s well worth the effort. Its Full Proof Bourbon appeals to Harley Carbery, corporate beverage director at Green Valley Ranch in Henderson, Nevada. “Weller Full Proof is something really special,” he says. “Made with wheat, it has a smooth, creamy finish with a touch of chocolate,” making it “a rich and satisfying pour that whiskey fans will really enjoy.”

Rudy Antunez, director of bars and restaurants at The Scottsdale Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona, agrees. “Weller Full Proof is the bottle I secretly hope guests ask about. When it finds its place on my back bar, I know the night is going to be memorable, for them and for me,” he says. “At 114 proof, it carries strength without overwhelming the palate. The wheated mash bill softens the edges, leading with caramel and vanilla before unfolding into honeyed cornbread, a touch of orange peel, and a comforting blend of baking spices.”

Bulleit Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Easily available and at nearly 60% ABV, Bulleit Barrel Strength is a true bourbon lover’s favorite, according to Margarita Cozzi, general manager of Council Oak Steaks & Seafood in Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. “Distilled and aged in Kentucky, this bourbon is very aromatic, with notes of sweet oak [and] gentle spiciness with light toffee note. I think it pairs perfectly with rich flavors like chocolate cake.” 

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

The Elijah Craig portfolio runs a broad gamut, from classics like its Small Batch to sippers like the terrific 18-year, comforting Toasted Barrel bourbon. Brett Moore, assistant manager at Tujague’s in New Orleans, is a fan. “It has a rich and vibrant taste with notes of caramel and vanilla,” he says. “You also get a peppery note and hints of citrus. There is a lingering warmth to it as well. It can be a challenge to have a barrel-strength bourbon that can be enjoyed neat, but this one works well because it is still mellow and has complexity to it.”

Frey Ranch Farm Strength Uncut Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Frey Ranch has become a reference point for the grain-to-glass movement in American whiskey. From Fallon, Nevada, its spirits are examples of the impressive depths that can be achieved when a distiller grows its own grains. Nickel City’s Hargesheimer recommends the Farm Strength heartily. “Frey Ranch is a great story, and the juice speaks for itself: A bold yet approachable four-grain bourbon that is perfect neat or over ice any time of year.”

High West Cask Strength Bourbon

Located in Utah and responsible for the cult-favorite A Midwinter Night’s Dram, High West is a go-to for collectors and bartenders. For Cooper Olvey, restaurant manager of Thistle & Rye in the Nashville Conrad, this cask-strength expression is particularly impressive. “It has very fruit-forward notes at the first nose, with notes of dark berry and cherry, and creates a rich and full-mouth feel,” he says. “It pulls notes of spices that create a level of deep complexity to it. If you like big, cask-strength whiskeys, High West’s take is worth exploring. It’s not the most gentle introduction to cask-strength whiskey, but for someone who enjoys intensity and complexity, it delivers.”

Michter’s US-1 Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

Michter’s produces one of the country’s most acclaimed whiskey lineups. This barrel-proof rye embodies that excitement. “[It] bursts with warm spice, dark toffee, and a smooth oak finish that lingers beautifully,” says Forsythia’s Harrop. “It’s a bold, yet elegant rye that showcases the depth and craftsmanship of true small-batch aging.”

Stagg Jr. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Part of the Buffalo Trace family, the Stagg Jr. is an investment bottle to be sure, but at just around $200, it’s at least somewhat approachable. Hemant Pathak, general manager and master mixologist of Junoon and Jazba restaurants in New York City, says that its inherent variety is most appealing. “The bourbon in each batch is a blend of barrels, and every time, you find unique and different flavors,” he says. “Also, each batch is bottled at a different barrel proof, which excites me to compare one batch to another.”

Still Austin Cask Strength Bourbon

Still Austin has gained much-deserved traction in recent years. Its cask-strength bourbon is a favorite for Travis Lutje, beverage specialist at Love Style Inc. in Fort Worth. “It’s made from 100% Brasetto rye grown here in Texas, aged two years, and [sits] at around 116 proof,” he says of this barrel selection. He loves it as the base for a powerful Black Manhattan. Pam Moncrief, bartender at Fort Worth’s POP UP BAR, is also a fan. “Full-bodied and juicy with rounded edges, the flavor profile is as big and beautiful as the Lone Star state itself,” she says.

Stranahan’s Cask Strength Single Barrel Single Malt Whiskey

The highly regarded Colorado distillery Stranahan’s has been on a tear, and this powerful dram is a delicious example of that. Steven Marshall, lead bartender at Dirty Habit, the rooftop bar in San Francisco’s Hotel Zelos, loves its “complex depth of flavor with a warm, semi-sweet maple and butterscotch note.” Those more generous flavors, he says, are balanced by “a very peppery and smoky after-palate that really exemplifies a good cask-strength whiskey.”

TX Barrel Proof Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey

This whiskey is so tied to its Texas roots that it’s even fermented with Lone Star-cultivated yeast. TX produces an array of terrific whiskeys that includes a fascinating experimental series. Kevin Carlow, bartender at Walloons in Fort Worth, recommends this one if you’re looking for a cask-strength bottle.

“The mash is corn, wheat, and barley (no rye), which is a local twist on the traditional bourbon mash of corn, usually some rye, and often a little barley,” he says. “Wheated bourbons have become some of the most sought-after in the last 20 years, as they are smoother and rounder with a hint of sweetness.”

William Larue Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

One of the most sought-after whiskeys in the Weller portfolio is this iconic expression. For Chris Gaspar, head bartender at New York City’s Kabin, it’s always been a standout. “It has the typical vanilla, chocolate, and tonka tones of whiskey, but the texture [is] oily and buttery on the palate, while still receiving the fiery warmth of 130-plus proof (varies by year).” He remembers his first sip. “This whiskey felt dangerous, but after one exhale, it was tamed and didn’t overstay its sip. I also like that this bottle releases near the holidays: Truly a gift to drink something so pure.”