When We Think About Spirits Most Of Us Envision An 80 Proof Liquid This Is Pretty Much The Standard For Vodka Tequila Whiskey Gin And Rum And Every Other Well
1. Everclear
No list is complete without this insane grain-alcohol spirit. Drinking this on its own is definitely not preferred as the 95% alcohol liquid will pretty much just dissolve in your throat before it even makes its way down . It is most commonly mixed with fruit punch to create a horrible jungle juice to be consumed at myriad frat parties throughout the country.
2. Bacardi 151
Anyone who has ever been to college has probably at least seen a bottle of this potent potable sitting on someones counter or on top of their refrigerator. At 75.5% alcohol , this rum is not to be taken lightly. If used to make a mojito, I strongly suggest only imbibing one as drinking two might require you to explain why you removed all of your clothing and streaked through the streets.
3. Laphroaig Ten Year Old Cask Strength
One of the classiest high proof spirits on our list, Laphroaigs ten year old cask strength is a 57.8% scotch whisky from the Scottish Island of Islay. Distilled on an island where sheep outnumber people by a wide margin, this high octane spirit should never be mixed, but should be sipped slowly in front of a warm fire.
4. George T. Stagg
5. St. George Absinthe Verte
6. Spirytus
Spirytus rektyfikowany means rectified spirit in Polish. Another name for rectified spirit is neutral spirit. This 96% spirit is anything but neutral in its alcohol content though. Similar to Everclear, this spirit is almost completely made up of alcohol and should be treated as such.
Bruichladdich X4 Quadrupled Whisky
- ABV: 92% Proof: 184
- Buy £54.00
Good old Scotland is on the list again! This time with a scotch whisky. Bruichladdich is listed as the most alcoholic single malt ever made. Its been said that this drink can power a sports car at over 100mph, but dont let that put you off! The drink is quadruple distilled in new oak casks which is a 17th-century tradition.
Can Pure Alcohol Kill You
Alcohol affects your body As it is absorbed directly into the bloodstream, every organ is affected which may increase the risk of life-threatening diseases, including cancer. Alcohol can kill you Drinking large amounts at one time or very rapidly can cause alcohol poisoning, which can lead to coma and death.
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What Happens If You Drink Alcohol Everyday
Drinking too much puts you at risk for some cancers, such as cancer of the mouth, esophagus, throat, liver and breast.
It can affect your immune system.
If you drink every day, or almost every day, you might notice that you catch colds, flu or other illnesses more frequently than people who dont drink..
How To Drink Vodka
There are many ways to enjoy vodka but the main thing to ensure is that its enjoyed ice cold. Before drinking vodka or preparing any vodka-based cocktails, store the bottle in the freezer for a few hours.
As alcohol has a much lower freezing point than vodka, theres no need to worry about it getting too cold. Freezing the vodka will remove any harsh flavours and softens the aroma and taste.
If sipping vodka, pour it into a small tumbler for optimum flavour. Swirl it in the glass and take a small sip as the flavours rest on your palate.
There are plenty of popular vodka-based cocktails to enjoy. Some common favourites are the Cosmopolitan, Martini, Bloody Mary, Gimlet and White Russian. Or, keep it simple in a highball glass with a vodka soda or vodka tonic.
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Ten Of The Worlds Strongest Spirits
High-strength spirits have appeared as a prominent trend in the spirits industry, but some of these worlds strongest spirits test the limits of human consumption.
Along with the resurgence in cocktail culture, a growing number of distillers have stepped into the high strength spirits category. Bartenders praise the depth of flavour such variants add to cocktails, while consumers relish the opportunity to try something a little different.
The category is not without controversy with numerous countrys imposing bans on the import and sale of high strength spirits. Most recently, a number of US states banned the sale of high strength grain alcohol at 95% ABV or above.
However, many members of the spirits industry believe that while creating a higher strength product for the pure sake of it is irresponsible, distillers should have the freedom to experiment in the category if it adds to the quality and flavour of their product.
A number of spirits mentioned on this list are not to be consumed neat, and are instead ideal for mixing or home macerating. Of course, spirits with such high strength can be dangerous if consumed excessively and should be drunk responsibly.
Diva Premium Vodka $1 Million
DIVA doesnt use gold in its vodka production, but it does involve precious stones for a truly luxurious taste. This brand, a favourite amongst celebrities, is distilled multiple times to ensure a smooth flavour profile and comes with more precious stones stored inside the bottle. Once empty, the stones can be kept as a keepsake.
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Best For The Beach: Neft
Courtesy of Caskers
Region: Austria | ABV: 40% | Tasting notes: Lemon, Spice, Vanilla
Four strains of ancient, non-GMO rye and pure Alpine spring water go into this award-winning Austrian vodka. Its light, lemony, and sweet.
Its smoothness, a product of triple distilling and carbon layer filtration makes it great for sipping neat, but its just as good mixed into cocktails. But the best thing about it is its packaging. Inspired by the producers grandfather, a Russian wildcatter, its packaged in a mock oil can, making it lightweight and unbreakable for outdoor imbibing.
Strongest Liquors In The World With Over 90% Alcohol Content
What is the maximum alcoholic content in the bottle of liquors in your bar cabinet? 10-25 per cent? Let’s say 40 per cent max? There are some liquors in the world with ABV of more than 80%. And then comes another category of strongest liquors with over 90% alcohol content. They are raw, real and like fire. There are distillers across the world that have created specially designed liquors increasing the ABV content of vodka, whiskeys, rums, absinthe and more.
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In The Fifth Of Our Power Brand Round Ups Our Attention Turns To Vodka With The Giants Of The Sector Battling It Out For A Spot In The Top 10
Compiled by the drinks business together with Intangible Business, the Drinks Business Power Brands Report sees the worlds most influential wine and spirits brands pitted against each other to determine the worlds most powerful.
With no exponential growth in Asia to ease the pressure, the ultra-competitive US vodka market has become a battleground where the chosen weapon is often price.
Smirnoff and Absolut have the muscle to maintain and even increase their volumes but risk losing some of their status in the process.
As the US economy returns to growth, Stuart Whitwell, joint MD of Intangible Business, expects people to be increasingly happy to pay a premium for their chosen spirit. But it may be brands with craft credibility, including Diageos Ketel One, which reap the rewards of that, he predicts.
Its a theory borne out by Bacardis recently launched new campaign for Grey Goose, Fly Beyond, which emphasises the artisanal aspects of the luxury brand.
NB: Only international brands with a global distribution are featured in this report.
Check out our most powerful drinks, whisky, Champagne and sparkling wines, and wine lists here.
Liquors That Contain The Highest Amount Of Alcohol
It’s not often that we wonder whether there are spirits out there that are so strong they could probably kill us if we drank too much of it, but they exist. Food & Wine credits the popularity of potent liquors to the return of pre-Prohibition cocktails, which were originally created to make bad alcohol more palatable.
Thrillist reminds us that overproof alcohol has a role in the world of mixology a role that transcends the need to just get wasted. “For bartenders, bigger alcohol degrees offer a wider latitude for more inventive cocktails since alcohol is the backbone for any successful mixed drink,” Paul Pacult, author of The Spirits Journal, says. “For consumers, loftier alcohol levels of 45 percent and up give the impression of greater character and more bang for their buck.”
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Russian Standard Ranked In Top 10 Most Powerful Vodka Brands
INTERNATIONAL. Russian Standard vodka has just been ranked as the eight most powerful vodka brand in the world, surpassing Ketel One, Wyborowa and Three Olives, according to Intangible Businesss 2011 Power 100 ranking.
Smirnoff, Absolut and Grey Goose were ranked in the top three respectively.
Among the Top 100 spirit brands, Russian Standard Vodka was ranked 44th, an improvement from the brands 54th place standing last year.
In addition, the brands significant growth earned a spot among only four brands to receive the Star Performance Award for exceptional performance. The other three brands were Svedka, The Glenlivet and Bombay Sapphire.
This is the second year that the brand has been recognised by the Power 100 ranking, a leading source for industry trends and statistics. Russian Standard vodka first entered the ranking in 2010 for its doubledigit global sales growth. The brand was also acknowledged in 2010 as a Star Performer and the second-highest new entrant.
We are very proud of the remarkable growth in 2010 and our achievements in 2011, said Russian Standard International CEO Jonathan Stordy. Our continued climb among the top 100 spirit brands is an important recognition of our success and is reflective upon Russian Standards continued commitment to bringing Russias number one premium vodka to the world.
Click here to read the full report on The Power 100: The Worlds Most Powerful Spirits & Wine Brands 2011.
How Is Vodka Made
As a relatively straightforward spirit, vodka can be distilled from virtually anything. Its mostly produced by fermenting potatoes or cereal grains like wheat or rye. The majority of plain vodkas and almost all Russian vodkas are created with wheat, while Polish vodka favours rye and Finnish vodka goes for barley. When vodka is produced using something other than potato or cereal grain, like Ciroc, which is made using grapes, it must legally be declared on the bottle.
To make vodka, the potato or grain is heated to form a mash before being mixed with yeast to produce ethanol. This fermentation process can take anything from one day to two weeks before the liquid is purified to remove any odours or off notes. Then, its distilled in column stills or pot stills to reach its desired purity.
The vodka, at 95.6 percent, is then diluted to around 50% with purified or spring water before being distilled again, at which point infusions can be added. The spirit is finished in the pot before common additives like honey or sugar are added. Before the final step, every bottle of vodka goes through a particle filter before its chilled and sold.
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Our Vodka London Edition
Well, this is a curious bottling. Essentially inspired by the team at Absolut, looking to do some covert projects, they chose key cities around the world to distill special edition vodkas. Detroit, Seattle, Berlin were just three of the cities, and soon London was added. Be warned, their vodka comes in smaller bottles with a crown cap so once you open a bottle, make sure you have plenty of friends and play of mixers at the ready.
Best Russian: Beluga Noble
Region: Russia | ABV: 40% | Tasting notes: Flowers, Cream, Alpine herbs
This vodka is the greatest combination of old traditions and contemporary chic, says Borisov. He notes the superiority of both the water source and the filtration processtwo key contributors to the vodkas bouquet and flavor profile. Beluga uses pure artesian well water from Siberia, and it triple filters its vodka through birch charcoal, a silver filter, and quartz sand. Then, the spirit is left to rest for a month to relax its aroma. After all that,” Borisov says, “the final product is clean like a tear, a common expression used to describe the highest quality vodka in Russia.”
Borisov also recommends keeping this bottle in the fridge and drinking it cold and neat, complemented in true Russian fashion with a small piece of rye bread and a pickled cornichon.
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What Is The Highest Proof Vodka
Although the word vodka is a diminutive of the Slavic term for water, the spirit has emerged from its somewhat brooding Eastern European background, where it was distilled from Russian potatoes, to enjoy a renaissance as a cosmopolitan mixer for stylish cocktails including the vodka martini, screwdriver and bloody Mary. Nowadays, nearly all vodka is distilled from wheat, barley and rye. While it is still infused with herbs in Eastern Europe, vodka sold in the United States must be colorless, odorless and flavorless easily done, since it is one of the few spirits not aged in wooden casks. Recently, the trend has been towards overproof vodkas in order to put some daylight between otherwise indistinguishable brands.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vodkas
What are the top 10 vodkas?
The top 10 vodkas, renowned for their flavour profiles, smoothness and use of high-quality distillation methods, are: Belvedere, Beluga, Grey Goose, Crystal Head, Hangar 1, Ciroc, Absolut, Ketel One, Pinnacle,and Svedka.
Which is the smoothest vodka?
The smoothest vodka is Belvedere vodka, which is almost velvety on the tongue and has a premium flavour to match.
Is Titos vodka good?
Titos is a multi-billion-dollar small batch brand and is a bestselling vodka in the United States. Its a smooth vodka filled with character that comes at a good price. Its known for its sweet, black pepper and corn notes and is a popular choice across the world.
What mixes best with vodka?
As a spirit famed for its lack of strong flavours, vodkas versatility means it goes well with most mixers. To bring out the notes of the spirit, go for soda and a squeeze of lime or pair it with tonic water. For a more flavourful drink, orange juice or grapefruit juice both mix well with vodka.
What is the best tasting vodka?
The best tasting vodka is Hangar 1 Fog Point, a small-batch vodka with notes of pear, citrus and honeysuckle. Drink it neat for best results.
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John Crow Batty Rum 160 Proof
This white hot Jamaican rum is named for the common belief that drinkers need a stomach as strong as a John Crow vulture just to slug it down. John Crow will certainly rot your insides if you drink too much straight, so we suggest mixing a dash into a rum cocktail to up the ante on less potent sugar cane spirits.
Smoothest Vodkas From The World Over
For the uninitiated, smoothness indicates the range or scale of which the presence of alcohol has a perceptibly harsh or strong after-taste. The higher the smoothness, the more the absence of such after-taste.
Some of the worlds smoothest vodkas are discussed below:
Absolut Elyx is premium vodka which is purified in stills made of copper and manufactured from winter wheat that grow in single-estate. It is sweet, a little nutty, and phenomenally velvety with a massive heft pouring from the copper-flecked bottles that take the shape of chiseled out rectangles It leaves no sign of burning sensation that a vodka produces when flowing down the drinkers throat. The Absolut Elyx has a considerably small production size.
Price: $42
ABV: 40%
Nikka Coffey Vodka is prepared by one of Japans famous whiskey manufacturers. This fresh subtle vodka is clean and crisp, and also laced with light flavors of green mint, citrus essence, and sweet peas. The finish leaves a hint of white pepper bite on the tongue. Not only this vodka is enjoyable without any mixers, but it would be a grave and unforgivable crime to blend the drink with any other ingredients. The only thing that one can top it up with is soda water. Otherwise, it should be preserved in the freezer and poured straight into the glass.
Price: $43
ABV: 40%
Price: $20
ABV: 38%
Price: $30
ABV: 40%
Price: $37
ABV: 40%
Price: $52
ABV: 40%
Price: $40
ABV: 42%
Price: $15
ABV: 40%
Price: $25
ABV: 40%
Price: $18.50
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River Antoine Royale Grenadian Rum
With 90% ABV, Grenadian Rum is made in Grenada with the old tradition of pot distilling which is a very slow distilling method. It is made from fermented sugarcane juice using a water wheel and is exceptionally flavorful. Locals drink this straight from water chaser and we recommend to do the same, because why not.
The World’s Top Five Strongest Liquors
If your memories of strong alcohol involve Bacardi 151 , have we got news for you. The Puerto Rican rum doesn’t even make it to the top five of The Daily Meal‘s list of the highest-proof liquors.
Coming in at No. 5 is Balkan Vodka, which comes in at 88 percent ABV and is triple distilled. The Drinks Shop sells Balkan Vodka with a warning: that it should not be consumed neat but cut with a mixer. The old-school labeling comes with a whopping 13 health warnings. At No. 4 is Hapsburg Gold Label Premium Reserve Absinthe, made in the Czech Republic and is 179 proof that’s 89.9 percent ABV.
The third-highest proof liquor in the world is Scotland’s Bruichladdich X4 Quadrupled Whisky, which is produced using the 17th-century method of quadruple distilling. Also called the world’s most alcoholic single malt, Bruichladdich contains 92 percent ABV.
With Everclear, the U.S. holds the distinction of being the first to bottle and sell a liquor that is 190 proof, or 95 percent ABV, but the record holder for the strongest liquor to date is Poland’s Spirytus vodka, which is 96 percent ABV. We’re not quite sure we know how it can be consumed, but it would probably come in handy as a cleaning agent.
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