Most alcoholic spirits sold have an alcohol ABV of around 30 – 40 something percent. Yet it is still never advisable to drink such spirits dry and in comes cocktails and chasers. What about the drinks that have a higher ABV? Here we look at the top 10 strongest drinks globally. You wouldn’t want to drink these dry, trust us.
1. Grappa 120 Proof
Grappa is an alcoholic beverage, a fragrant, grape-based pomace brandy of Italian origin that contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume (70 to 120 US proof). It is made by distilling the skins, pulp, seeds, and stems (i.e., the pomace) left over from winemaking after pressing the grapes. It was originally made to prevent waste by using these leftovers. A similar drink, known as acquavite d’uva, is made by distilling whole must.
2. Sierra Tequila Silver 150 Proof
Sierra Tequila Silver is a rested, clear tequila. Its full, fruity, fresh aroma, which is dominated by light chilli notes, is a reflection on the Agave tequilana Weber azul and the light notes of green apples and young pineapple. Nuances of pepper give Sierra Tequila Silver that certain something, making it a tequila that is full of character.
3. Bacardi 151 Proof
Bacardi 151 is a brand of highly alcoholic rum made by Bacardi Limited of Hamilton, Bermuda. It is named for its alcohol proof level of 151, that is, 75.5% alcohol by volume. This is much higher than typical rum at 35%–40%. It is typically used in sweet drinks, such as the Hurricane and Caribou Lou, which combine rum and fruit juices. In Germany, Bacardi 151 is frequently used to prepare Feuerzangenbowle, a traditional German alcoholic drink.
4. John Crow Batty Rum 160 Proof
Jamaican white rum is the country’s version of moonshine. The legendarily potent John Crow Batty was so named, the story goes, because it’s stronger than the stomach acids of the wild “John Crow” vultures, which snack on decaying meat.
5. Balkan 176 Proof vodka
This Bulgarian triple-distilled vodka contains an insane 88% alcohol (176-proof). It’s sure to put hair on your chest whether you want it or not. The label even says “handle with care.” Please do.
6. Absinthe 179 Proof
is historically described as a distilled, highly alcoholic (45–74% ABV / 90–148 U.S. proof) beverage. It is an anise-flavoured spirit derived from botanicals, including the flowers and leaves of Artemisia absinthium (“grand wormwood”), together with green anise, sweet fennel, and other medicinal and culinary herbs. Absinthe traditionally has a natural green colour but may also be colourless.
7. Bruichladdich X4 Quadrupled Whiskey 184 Proof
This quadruple-distilled blockbuster dram is distilled on the Rhinns of the isle of Islay in Scotland since 1881 and is a very high quality single malt whiskey. The legend about this whiskey says, in 1695 Martin Martin, a Hebridean traveller spoke of an ancient powerful spirit, which translates from the Gaelic as “perilous whisky”. He was told by the locals: “one sip and you live forever; two sips and you go blind; three sips and you expire on the spot”.
8. Golden Grain 190 Proof
Golden Grain Alcohol is a brand of neutral grain spirit that is available at 95% alcohol (190 proof), in contrast to hard liquors such as rum and vodka, which typically contain 40%–60% alcohol (80–120 proof).
9. Everclear Grain 190 Proof
Everclear is a brand name of rectified spirit sold by American spirits company Luxco.[1] It is bottled at 151-proof (75.5% ABV) and 190-proof (95% ABV).
Due to the azeotropic effects visible in the distillation process, ethanol cannot be concentrated by ordinary distillation to a ratio of ethanol to water greater than approximately 96:4 by weight. The highest concentration of ethanol generally available for human consumption is 190 proof, which is about 92.4% ethanol by weight.
10. Spirytus Polish Vodka 192 Proof
Made of premium ethyl alcohol of agricultural cereal origin, purified according to the newest technology. It is of very high clarity in regards to its chemical content, and is of a very gentle smell and taste. It’s made of raw materials grown and processed exclusively in Poland. It’s used among other things to prepare home-made fruit and herbal liqueurs, vodkas as well as cakes and for medical purposes.