What Drink Has The Most Alcohol? Our 10 Picks (2023 Edition)
Last Updated on May 17, 2023 by Lydia Martin
In the past years, the rise of powerful alcohols has gone beyond the frat houses and into the mainstream.
Due to the revival of Prohibition-era cocktail culture and our thirst for the latest innovations, we’re seeing a spike in the number of super-potent liquors.
While most standard vodkas and tequilas are typically in your average 80 to 100-proof range, specialty liquors can go as high as 90.
But what drink has the most alcohol? Let’s find out.
Top 10 Drinks With The Most Alcohol
10. River Antoine Royale Grenadian Rum
Average Price: $77/750ml (Wine Searcher)
Alcohol Content: 75% ABV
Quick Description: River Antoine Royale Grenadian Rum is one of the world’s strongest rums, with an alcohol content of 75%.
This dark and rich rum was crafted using old-fashioned techniques, such as using a waterwheel to crush the sugarcane.
9. Bacardi 151
Average Price: $22.99-$400 (Discontinued)
Alcohol Content: 75.5% ABV
Quick Description: Bacardi 151 is commonly used as a Pina Colada floater or in fiery drinks, such as the Tucker Max-endorsed “flaming Dr. Pepper,” which is made with alcohol only.
However, it is no longer available as Bacardi Limited discontinued its production in 2016. It’s considered flammable due to its high alcohol content.
8. Balkan 176 Vodka
Average Price: $231.99/750ml (Cask Cartel)
Alcohol Content: 88% ABV
Quick Description: Another strong alcoholic drink is Balkan 176 Vodka, which has an ABV of 88%.
This Serbian spirit is known for its pleasant taste and high alcohol concentration. It’s distilled several times and filtered through charcoal to remove pollutants, creating a clear and pure taste.
7. Pincer Shanghai Strength
Average Price: $179.99/700ml (Cask Cartel)
Alcohol Content: 88.8% ABV
Quick Description: This eco-friendly vodka from Glasgow makers claim that its 177-proof formula can be used as a concentrate.
It contains milk thistle and wild elderflower – both used in Chinese medicine. A single bottle of this can supply 65 shots, more than the usual 26.
6. Hapsburg Gold Label Premium Reserve Absinthe
Average Price: $58 / 750ml (Wine Searcher)
Alcohol Content: 89.9%
Quick Description: In many countries, possessing and drinking absinthe is illegal due to its potent and hallucinatory effects. Do you know why?
“I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me.”
Winston Churchill, Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
This alcoholic beverage is known for its strong and robust flavor, with an alcohol content of 89.9%. So, it’s typically prepared with added sugar cubes and cold water to tone down the alcohol.
5. Bruichladdich X4 Quadrupled Whisky
Average Price: $212/750ml (Wine Searcher)
Alcohol Content: over 92% ABV
Quick Description: Bruichladdich x4 Quadrupled whisky is a renowned Scottish whisky with an ABV of over 92%.
The distinctive distillation technique used to create this product adds to its powerful and smooth flavor.
4. Everclear
Average Price: $38.99/1.75L (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 95% ABV
Quick Description: Everclear is the first alcohol product that’s 190-proof, and it’s a favorite among young people because it’s almost tasteless.
Due to its high alcohol content and widespread availability, it has become an iconic figure in popular culture.
3. Golden Grain
Average Price: $34.99/1.75L (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 95% ABV
Quick Description: Golden Grain is vital to many alcoholic drinks, such as Instant Death and The Screaming Purple Jesus. It’s produced at the same distillery as Everclear.
“Drinking for the sake of getting drunk is like racing to the finish line without enjoying the journey.”
Liquor Laboratory
However, Golden Grain is illegal in several states, including Iowa, Florida, Ohio, California, Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, Michigan, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Minnesota, and New York.
2. Diesel 190
Average Price: $29.99/1.75L (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 95% ABV
Quick Description: Diesel 190 is a high-proof neutral spirit made in America and is distilled from 100% grain.
It’s a great addition to mixed drinks, Daiquiris [1], party punches, and homemade limoncello. Also, it can be used to make various herbal remedies.
1. Spirytus Stawski
Average Price: $15.99/750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 95-96% ABV
Quick Description: One of the strongest types of alcoholic beverages is Spirytus Stawski, a Polish vodka with an alcohol content of 95%.
The distillation of potatoes, sugar beets, and grains creates this liquor. It is usually blended with soft drinks or fruit juice.
FAQs
What alcohol is 100 percent?
The alcohol with 100 percent neutral spirit is Golden Grain, which is distilled from grain. Like Everclear, it’s odorless and colorless.
Can you drink 100 percent alcohol?
You can drink 100 percent alcohol, but it’s not advisable. The recommended lethal dose of isopropanol for humans is around 90-100% or around 8oz [2].
What’s the most alcoholic drink in the world?
The most alcoholic drink in the world is vodka, known as Spirytus, produced in Poland. It has an alcohol content of around 95% to 96%.
In Summary
Although the strongest alcohol can vary depending on how we define it, strong beverages typically have the highest alcohol percentage.
These drinks should be consumed moderately to avoid potential health issues, particularly alcohol poisoning.
If you want to try the spirits on this list, you should consume them as little as possible if you don’t want a bad hangover the next day.
References:
- https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/drinks/a3218/daiquiri-cocktail/
- https://www.uptodate.com/contents/isopropyl-alcohol-poisoning/print
Lydia Martin hails from Redmond, Washington, where you’ll find some of the best cocktail bars and distilleries that offer a great mix of local drinks. She used to work as a bar manager in Paris and is a self-taught mixologist whose passion for crafting unique cocktails led her to create Liquor Laboratory. Lydia can whip up a mean Margarita in seconds! Contact at [email protected] or learn more about us here.
