What does cask strength/barrel proof mean?

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. - Confucius

As with many things in life, the bourbon/whiskey industry has very complex terms to explain very simple concepts, and in some cases, different terms explain the same concepts. To make this even more complicated there is no globally cited source to find out what the terms actually mean.

A huge area of confusion is around the terms Barrel-Proof and Cask-Strength. Many people think these terms mean different things but in reality, they mean the same thing. They mean a bourbon that has little to no water added to it after it is distilled. In other words, a barrel-proof or cask-strength bottle is unchanged from what comes out of the barrel. This is done to preserve flavors and to keep the proof higher.

Some really good barrel proof or cask strength bourbons are Wild Turkey - Rare Breed, Makers - Mark Cask Strength, or my personal favorite Weller - Full Proof. To find out more great barrel proof or cask strength pours, check out the app NEAT: Whiskey Finder!.