What Percent Alcohol Is Whiskey? Breaking Down the Range of Proofs

Jack Daniel’s Apple Liqueur Whiskey seen at the bar counter. (Photo by Igor Golovniov / SOPA Images/Sipa USA)

When you pick up a bottle of whiskey, you’ll notice a number on the label followed by a percentage sign and “ABV.” This percentage is crucial in understanding the strength of the whiskey.

What Is ABV?

ABV stands for “Alcohol by Volume,” and it measures the amount of pure alcohol (ethanol) in a drink, displayed as a percentage of the total volume. In whiskey, the ABV reflects the concentration of alcohol in the bottle, giving you an idea of how potent the drink is. The higher the ABV, the stronger the whiskey.

Another term used to describe ABV is “proof.” This term originated in England in the 1800s. It was originally equal to about 1.75 times the percentage of ABV.

Today, proof is mainly used in the U.S., where it is simply double the ABV. So, if a whiskey is 45% ABV, it’s 90 proof. Pretty easy math typically.

What Is a Typical ABV for a Whiskey?

Almost everywhere in the world, the minimum ABV for whiskey is 40%. Australia is an exception, allowing for its whiskies to be bottled at 37% or higher.

If you see a “whiskey” bottled below those marks, it isn’t technically a whiskey. It may fall under a different, whiskey-adjacent category, such as flavored whiskey or whiskey-based liqueur.

So, for the most part, the minimum ABV for a whiskey is 40%. Most brands lower the ABV of their whiskeys by cutting it down with water, in order to make it more palatable to the everyday drinker and be more profitable; after all, the more water filling a bottle, the less precious whiskey is going into it. That price factor is why most whiskeys you’ll see on the bottom to middle shelves in your liquor store are around that 40%-45% range. Here are some of the best-selling whiskeys in America and the ABVs of their flagship bourbons:

Maker’s Mark: 45% ABV

Bulleit Bourbon: 45% ABV

Michter’s: 45.7% ABV

Woodford Reserve: 45.2% ABV

Buffalo Trace: 45% ABV

Wild Turkey 101: 50.5% ABV

Jim Beam: 40% ABV

Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7: 40% ABV

Four Roses Bourbon: 40% ABV

Many reach far beyond that lower range, though. Famously, the most powerful known whisky ever was Bruichladdich’s X4 Scotch Whisky, which contained a ridiculous 92% ABV.

Whiskeys above 70% ABV — colloquially called “Hazmat” because they’re banned on flights thanks to their flammable nature — are pretty rare. Most of the team, you’ll see whiskeys ranging between 40% and 55% ABV, with higher-proof bottlings often labeled “barrel proof” or “cask strength” — both terms for whiskey that hasn’t been diluted with any water.