A discussion over in the Wine Forum made me want to pose this question. For those who enjoy whisky or whiskey or other spirits, do you have an ABV level that you look for or like the best? Not necessarily a number, though that’s great, but also just high proof versus low or blended versus cask strength? Or cask strength with a healthy splash of water?
In our house, we mostly drink cask scotch and high proof gin, like Martin Miller’s Westbourne. When trying new gins, the low 40s are much less interesting to me than a few notches up. We don’t water down our whisky, either, just a drop or two from time to time to help it open.
For scotch, I am probably most comfortable around ~55%, though of course that’s a huge generalization and it depends on the spirit. I do have a bias in that I prefer that cask strength not fall below 50%. At the high end of the spectrum, it’s tougher for a whisky to be balanced at 60%+ to me, though there are some stunning exceptions. (How on earth does the Glenfarclas 105 40 year come in at 60% in the first place, and do it with such elegance? Magic.) I don’t reject lower proof or blended out of hand - I’ve had some amazing bottles over the years - it’s just not usually my choice. As at the other end of the spectrum, it’s harder for a 40% to achieve depth and balance. As Jonathan puts it: just because Roy Orbison could open his mouth a crack and fill the room, not everyone can.
Fortunately, there are options at pretty much every level. I’d be curious to hear people’s preferences and also some examples of extremes at either end that folks feel transcend their ABVs.