These are the best 10 cask‑strength whiskies for winter nights. The full-throttle, no-holds-barred, all rock, plenty o’ roll bottles that would put even more hair on Tom Selleck’s chest.
Why do we love cask strength whisky so much? Well, it just so happened we answered that very question only recently in our article Cask strength explained: What it means and why fans love it.
Do check it out. But only once you’ve surveyed these beauties. You can’t go wrong with any of the following cask strength whiskies. With colder nights on the horizon, these are ideal winter warmers.
Best 10 cask‑strength whiskies for winter nights
We love a whisky drawn straight from the cask, without dilution
Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength – Batch B1/24 Whisky 70cl
What happens when you take beloved single pot still Irish whiskey, Redbreast 12 Year Old, and bottle it at a cask strength 57.5% ABV? You get a masterclass in decadent, rich, sherried goodness. Like drinking the most comforting of fireplaces.
Seaweed & Aeons & Digging & Fire & Cask Strength 10 Year Old (Batch 07) 70cl Whisky
High-proof whisky, Seaweed-style. This deserves a place on any cask‑strength Scotch list, with its layers of robust, earthy, medicinal smoke balanced by sweet, spiced fruit. At 56.5% ABV, this 10-year-old Islay single malt from Seaweed & Aeons has so much body that, if it could grow a moustache, it’d be Tom Selleck’s. What? I like the dude.
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 70cl Whisky
Cask‑strength bourbon here from Maker’s Mark. An already delicious sipper elevated by its 55.1% ABV bottling strength, this is ideal for those who want their bourbon to leave even more of a mark.
Still look forward to every edition.
Bunnahabhain 21 Year Old Cask Strength – 2025 Edition 70cl Whisky
Bunnahbahian 21 Year Old, but make it cask strength. What’s not to like? For the 2025 edition, the ABV is 53.1%. Purchase now* and you’ll get free drinking glasses and coasters too.
GlenAllachie 10 Year Old Cask Strength – Batch 12 70cl Whisky
Another annual batch release that we can’t get enough of. This GlenAllachie release was aged in Pedro Ximénez, oloroso, red wine, and new oak casks, then bottled at a cask strength 59.7% ABV, without added colour or chill filtration. So, so good.
Tomatin Cask Strength Bourbon & Sherry Casks 70cl Whisky
Tomatin single malt Scotch whisky is a fine one to be presented at cask strength, in this case a generous 57.5% ABV. The distillery is known for its intense, fruity spirit. Here, you get an avalanche of flavour pitched just right, so none of the elements clash or become overpowered.
The STR casks here are not heavily charred, so the Lochlea spirit can shine.
The Ileach Cask Strength 70cl Whisky
Simply put, one of the most underrated whiskies on the market. Islay single malt done right, at a boisterous 58% ABV. Do not let this one pass you by.
Lochlea Cask Strength – Batch 2 70cl Whisky
The annual batch game is a fine place to find cask strength whisky, as you’ve probably worked out by now, and Lochlea has gotten in on that game with aplomb. Bottled at a whopping 60% ABV, Batch 2 is drawn from a combo of single malt Scotch whisky aged in refill bourbon then in Pedro Ximénez (60%), oloroso (28%), and whisky double matured in American oak and European oak STR barriques (shave, toasted, and re-charred).
Blair Athol 13 Year Old 2011 (cask 2) – Cask Strength Collection (Signatory) 70cl Whisky
Here’s a top tip if you love cask strength whisky: Signatory has a whole range called the Cask Strength Collection. And it’s the bomb. If you’re not acquainted, or you just love fine whisky, start here with a vintage 2011 Blair Athol single malt that aged in a first-fill ruby Port hogshead. It’s so rich in fruit and spice, this baby will have you saying “Halle Berry”, Benoit Blanc-style.
Nc’nean Cask Strength Organic Single Malt 70cl Whisky
This is such a cool brand. The character of the spirit speaks for itself, so let’s talk a little about how the whisky is certified organic and made in Nc’nean’s renewable energy-powered distillery. And that every bottle is made from 100% recycled glass. Here’s another fun fact. I like to say Nc’nean like Nc’neeeoowwn in my head. You know, like the sound a fast car makes going round a corner. No, you’re immature.
The Last Drop
That was our pick of 10 cask‑strength whiskies for winter nights. Any pitches? Let us know in the comments below.
*At the time of writing.
