Ask Away: Which 40% ABV Whisky Do You Recommend?

It's Friday, and that means it's time for a new Ask Away. Is a whisky bottled at 'just' 40 percent alcohol wrong? Not at all! The Whisky Monkeys editorial team can recommend a few. Will you join us? Tell us what you think a good 40% ABV whisky is.

The Laphroaig 10 is a true classic for me. Neat or in a cocktail, I always have a bottle at home. I just don't get all the fuss about 40%. There are plenty of delicious whiskies at 40 percent!

One is sometimes swayed by a phenomenon that temporarily gets excessive media attention and therefore seems more significant than it actually is. In other words, the 40% hype is no longer a hype, it's not cool anymore, it's not authentic anymore, and so on.

I no longer pay attention to the alcohol percentage. It's either a tasty whisky or slightly less tasty. I can mention a few delightful 40% drams. How about the The Glenlivet 18 Years Batch Reserve, Glenfiddich 21 Years Reserva Rum Cask Finish, and The Dalmore 15 Year Old? I could keep going. They are all delicious whiskies that I'd love to have in my whisky cabinet.

There are few whiskies in my collection at 40% alcohol. That being said, Laphroaig 10 is a mainstay and I enjoy it. Particularly, the older bottlings do not taste bad. Also, The Balvenie 12 Years is a flavor maker for me where I don't find the 40% alcohol off-putting.

There are numerous whiskies that are interesting at 40%. One example is Redbreast 12. This Irish whiskey delivers a beautiful balance of soft fruit and floral flavors with its 40%.

Which whiskies bottled at 40 percent would you recommend? Let us know in the comments below.