Drinks Spirits Where to Find 12 of the World's Strongest Liquors These legendary bottles pack a punch — here's where to find them and how to use them. By Brian Freedman Brian Freedman Brian Freedman is a wine, spirits, travel, and food writer; event host and speaker; and drinks educator. He regularly contributes to Food & Wine, and his first book, Crushed: How A Changing Climate Is Altering the Way We Drink, was published in October 2022. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on September 19, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Getty Images Higher-proof spirits have been growing in popularity for years. In cocktails, they retain more power even as they slowly become diluted from ice in a shaker or the drinking glass itself. But what about the truly powerful ones, the spirits that ring in at levels that might make you woozy just thinking about them? The dozen below rank among the more powerful on the planet. Use them with caution, and keep them away from flames. 01 of 12 Polmos Spirytus Rektyfikowany © Tristan Biley / Courtesy of Travel + Leisure Proof: 192 (96% alcohol). Made in: Poland This Polish-made vodka — the name translates to rectified spirit — is the strongest spirit for sale in the U.S. “It’s like getting punched in the solar plexus,” one sampler told the New York Post. It’s best employed as a base for liqueurs infused with herbs and fruits…not so much for drinking its own, which is a terrible life decision. 02 of 12 Everclear Courtesy of Luxco Spirited Brands / Courtesy of Travel + Leisure Proof: 190 (95% alcohol). Made in: United States Everclear spawned a ‘90s alt-rock band and many brutal hangovers. This is another one that should not be consumed on its own; it’s much more smartly employed as a base for limoncello or other liqueurs. Bitters, too. 03 of 12 Golden Grain Courtesy of Luxco Spirited Brands / Courtesy of Travel + Leisure Proof: 190 (95% alcohol). Made in: United States From the same makers as Everclear, and nearly identical in constitution, Golden Grain is the key ingredient in drinks with names like The Screaming Purple Jesus and Instant Death. Here’s a shocker: it’s illegal in some states, just like Everclear. 04 of 12 Bruichladdich X4 Quadrupled Whiskey Courtesy of Bruichladdich X4 Quadrupled Whiskey / Courtesy of Travel + Leisure Proof: 184 (92% alcohol). Made in: Scotland Based on the 17th-century method of quadruple distilling, Bruichladdich’s X4 is billed as the highest-proof single malt ever made. Aged in new oak casks to enhance flavor, the X4 can also, as proven by a pair of BBC journalists, power a sports car at speeds over 100 mph. But good luck finding it: This is a serious challenge to get your hands on. 05 of 12 River Antoine Royale Grenadian Rum © Jack Sullivan / Alamy / Courtesy of Travel + Leisure Proof: 180 (90% alcohol). Made in: Grenada Drawing from the centuries-old tradition of “pot stilling” — a slower, more flavorful method of distillation that occurs in a wide-bottomed and thin-necked still, as opposed to column distillation — this strong, clear rum can be sipped on its own (slowly and not in great quantities, please!) and also used to crafts powerful cocktails. 06 of 12 Hapsburg Gold Label Premium Reserve Absinthe © Nick Oliver / Courtesy of Travel + Leisure Proof: 179 (89.9% alcohol). Made in: Czech Republic Hapsburg’s absinthe blend might not be the same version enjoyed by Van Gogh, the most famous of absinthe drinkers, but rest assured it has’s inspired some “artistic” behavior. In a perfect world, you’d sip this with a bit of water slowly dripped through a sugar cube held by one of those gorgeous art deco spoons that were designed for the purpose. 07 of 12 Pincer Shanghai Strength Vodka Courtesy of Pincer Vodka / Courtesy of Travel + Leisure Proof: 177 (88.8% alcohol). Made in: Scotland The Glasgow-based, eco-minded makers of this botanical vodka say their powerful formula is intended to be used as a concentrate: A single bottle supplies 65 shots, compared to the usual 26. Good luck finding it, however: A quick online search found a single source in the US, and they’re charging around $180 for a 1-liter bottle. 08 of 12 Balkan 176 Vodka Courtesy of Wine and Spirit / Courtesy of Travel + Leisure Proof: 176 (88% alcohol). Made in: Bulgaria If you can find a bottle of this potent elixir, don’t treat it as you would a more typical vodka: A classic Martini, for example, would end your evening before it really even began…and likely put a serious damper on the rest of the weekend, too. 09 of 12 John Crow Batty Rum © Jeff Allen / Courtesy of Travel + Leisure Proof: 160 (80% alcohol). Made in: Jamaica Jamaican white rum may be familiar to you, but this one is…different. It’s so strong that even the name serves as a warning: It’s a reference to the john crow vulture — better known in the United States as the turkey vulture—whose diet of decaying meat necessitates a stomach of serious strength…just like this rum. 10 of 12 Bacardi 151 © Christopher Luna / Courtesy of Travel + Leisure Proof: 151 (75.5% alcohol). Made in: Puerto Rico Discontinued in 2016, this famously flammable spirit was many people’s first foray into dangerously high-octane cocktails, as well as flaming shots. As Bacardi itself notes on its website: “As a company, we care for our customers’ health and wellbeing, and since there are so many other premium BACARDÍ rums to try, we felt it was best for everyone to let BACARDÍ 151 slink away into the night and transform into the shadowy creature of legend it has become.” 11 of 12 King of Spirits Absinthe © Christopher Carlsson / Courtesy of Travel + Leisure Proof: 140 (70% alcohol) Made in: Czech Republic King of Spirits Absinthe isn’t just high in alcohol; it also boasts 100mg of thujone, the famous backbone of wormwood, per bottle. Of course, it’s long been established that absinthe won’t make you into a great painter or suddenly be beset by the urge to slice off your ear, Van Gogh-style. But the booze alone is enough to make moderation the rule with this one. 12 of 12 Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Barrels Proof: 1119.8 Made in: United States There are of course other spirits that ring it at more than 59.9% ABV, but it didn’t feel right to leave a great cask-strength Bourbon out of this list. The popularity of barrel-proof American whiskey has been skyrocketing in recent years, and the number of options available has expanded as a result. This one is a delicious example of what makes them so appealing. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit