How to Taste Cask Strength Whiskey Like a Supertaster

I hear the same worry all the time: “Cask strength? Isn’t that too strong for me?” Almost never. Cask strength isn’t about proving how much heat you can take — it’s about tasting whiskey the way it came out of the barrel, before anyone watered it down. Once you know how to approach it, full proof becomes the most rewarding way to drink. Here’s how I do it, as a supertaster, with no pretension required.

First, what “cask strength” means

Most whiskey is proofed down with water before bottling, often to around 40–46% ABV. Cask strength is bottled at the strength it reached in the barrel — higher, richer, more concentrated. Nothing removed, nothing added. With our 6-Year, that means everything the grain and the Catskill climate built arrives in your glass intact.

The method: nose, sip, water, revisit

This is an uncompromising, cask-strength spirit, meaning it is bottled at a high proof to retain its complexity. To truly appreciate its depth without overwhelming your senses:

1. The Hover. Some will tell you to bring the glass up slowly and breathe in with your lips slightly parted, that it keeps the alcohol from overwhelming your nose. If you’re like me and not naturally a mouth breather hold the glass slightly below your chin, waving it back and forth allowing the volatile alcohol to dissipate. Take short, gentle inhalations to catch the subtle oak, vanilla, and spice notes. Give it a moment. While I smell apricots, anise, sugar cane, and chamomile — note it might be different for you! We have different sensitivities in smell and taste. There is NO WRONG ANSWER!

2. The Palate Cleanser. Take a small, exploratory sip. Allow the whiskey to coat your entire palate—the front, sides, and back of your tongue — relax into the heat and don’t worry about any specific flavors. It’s going to burn and that’s okay. The flavor really opens up on the second sip — but not yet!

3. The Nose: Bring the glass to your nose again and take a deep inhalation. Take note of the scents coming to the forefront now that your palate is primed.

4. The Sip. Take another sip, again letting the whiskey coat your entire palate—this time engaging your taste receptors. Take note of the fruits, spices, and other flavors. Swallow slowly to appreciate the finish.

5. The Dilution. [OPTIONAL] Add 2-3 drops of water to the whiskey. Lowering the proof releases hydrophobic flavor compounds, allowing you to experience the flavor profile while reducing the ethanol burn.

6. The Cocktail. Cask-strength whiskey makes a truly premium cocktail. The whiskey’s flavor is enhanced and elevated, not masked. Choose a signature cocktail from our website for a luxurious experience.

Build a Bourbon Heritage Month flight

Want to make an evening of it? Pour our 6-Year Cask Strength Bourbon and 10-Year Wheated Whiskey side by side. Taste the bourbon first — bold, rich, cherry, apricots, almonds, and a bit of buttery croissant. Then the wheated — softer, more sophisticated, a longer finish of caramel, chocolate, ginger, and orange. Same philosophy, two very different voices. Notice what water does to each. That contrast is the whole education, and it’s a genuinely fun way to end the month.

Close out Bourbon Heritage Month with a pour that means something. Build your tasting with the 6-Year and 10-Year — and get everything coming next, including an October you’ll want early, on my email list first. [Join here.]