Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In our pursuit of whisky, we find ourselves speaking about alcohol strength - a lot. It makes a lot of sense; it's a critical part of the enjoyment and assessment of whisky. But how often to we stop and ask - why?
Why is the entry point for whisky 40%? Why are some whiskies 43%? Why is the cut-off threshold for chill-filtration generally considered 46%? Why are there so many standard bottlings at 50%? What is the meaning of cask strength? Still strength? Receiver strength? How do any or all of these strengths affect what we enjoy and - for fun - just how high can that ABV get?
All of this, and a few good sipping examples along the way…
Hope to welcome you there!
0:00 - Opening
2:15 - Brief intro to topic
6:00 - Welcoming in the Lounge
15:26 - 40% ABV - Whisky's 'Minimum' Strength
31:16 - 43% ABV - 'Export' Strength
47:26 - 46% - 'Enthusiast' Strength
1:04:00 - Next week & why no guests on recent vPubs?
1:05:45 - 50% ABV 'Premium' Strength
1:23:48 - 57.1% ABV 100º Imperial Proof
1:32:16 - Cask Strength
1:58:30 - Still Strength / Receiver Strength / Fill Strength
2:10:42 - Some of the highest ABV in the vPub
2:29:22 - Quiz at the End
🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 streamyard.com/pal/d/5188931899359232
In our pursuit of whisky, we find ourselves speaking about alcohol strength - a lot. It makes a lot of sense; it's a critical part of the enjoyment and assessment of whisky. But how often to we stop and ask - why?
Why is the entry point for whisky 40%? Why are some whiskies 43%? Why is the cut-off threshold for chill-filtration generally considered 46%? Why are there so many standard bottlings at 50%? What is the meaning of cask strength? Still strength? Receiver strength? How do any or all of these strengths affect what we enjoy and - for fun - just how high can that ABV get?
All of this, and a few good sipping examples along the way…
Hope to welcome you there!
0:00 - Opening
2:15 - Brief intro to topic
6:00 - Welcoming in the Lounge
15:26 - 40% ABV - Whisky's 'Minimum' Strength
31:16 - 43% ABV - 'Export' Strength
47:26 - 46% - 'Enthusiast' Strength
1:04:00 - Next week & why no guests on recent vPubs?
1:05:45 - 50% ABV 'Premium' Strength
1:23:48 - 57.1% ABV 100º Imperial Proof
1:32:16 - Cask Strength
1:58:30 - Still Strength / Receiver Strength / Fill Strength
2:10:42 - Some of the highest ABV in the vPub
2:29:22 - Quiz at the End
🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 streamyard.com/pal/d/5188931899359232
