Summer’s balmy embrace is long gone. Winter and the holidays are barreling toward us like an out-of-control locomotive. And while a crackling fire can replace the warmth of the sun on your skin, we prefer to warm up from the inside out. Because, truthfully, there’s no greater feeling than staving off a chill with the season’s greatest warming whiskeys.
When we say whiskey, we don’t mean we’re sticking to just one category. The fall calls for Scotch, rye, and bourbon. And, when it comes to warming, this usually means a high proof.
When we need a respite from the cold, we turn to barrel-strength and cask-strength whiskey. These are highly potent potables in the 100-plus range—the kind of heat that sets a fire in your belly and radiates warmth to your bones. But not just any cask-strength whiskey will do. Below, you’ll find 10 of our favorites, chosen for their balanced ratio of quality to warming effect.
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1. George Dickel Bottled in Bond
When people think of Tennessee whiskey, one name immediately comes to mind: Jack Daniel’s. But an argument can be made for the second most popular brand from the Volunteer State: George Dickel. That’s because of expressions like Bottled in Bond. Released a few years ago, this 100 proof expression was aged for 13 years, giving it rich charred oak, dried fruit, toffee, and sweet vanilla flavors.
When it comes to warming whiskey, you definitely shouldn’t overlook Irish bottles. One of the best is Redbreast Cask Strength. This high-proof version of its iconic 12-year-old was aged in both ex-bourbon barrels and Oloroso sherry butts. The result is a bold, nuanced whiskey with hints of caramel apples, dried cherries, caramel, vanilla, rich oak, and toasted vanilla beans.
3. Alberta Premium Cask Strength Canadian Rye Whisky
This previously under-the-radar Canadian whisky’s popularity exploded when Jim Murray named it “Whisky of the Year” in his Whisky Bible. Distilled in Calgary with a mash bill of 100 percent Alberta rye, it’s aged for at least five years and bottled at cask strength. This results in a warming, spicy whisky with notes of dried fruits, butterscotch, vanilla beans, and a gentle, spicy cracked black pepper finish that leaves you craving more.
Made in the same style as its original straight bourbon, Woodinville Cask Strength is crafted only with corn, rye, and malted barley sourced from its home state of Washington. It spends five years in the barrel before being bottled at cask strength, creating a unique, flavorful whiskey highlighted by flavors of fudge, wood char, caramel corn, dried fruits, and a gentle, warming finish.
In the past decade, a new frontier of whiskey has begun in Texas. One of the best examples is Balcones. And, if you’re looking for a warming whiskey from the Waco-based distillery, give True Blue 100 a try. This award-winning corn whiskey is known for its sweet, mellow flavor with notes of clover honey, sweet corn, and just a hint of spice to bring everything together.
A doozy to pronounce, this single malt Scotch whisky is a great example of a high-proof, sherry-finished whisky. A favorite among fans of the distillery, this whisky got its name from a loch near the distillery. The non-chill-filtered whisky is loaded with flavors like salted caramel, dried cherries, sweet sherry, sticky toffee pudding, and a heavy dose of campfire smoke to remind you that it’s from Islay.
Sagamore Spirit has made quite a name for itself in the rye whiskey world in the last few years, racking up countless awards. Its Cask Strength Rye is not only one of its best, but one of its most warming. It’s a blend of straight high-rye and low-rye whiskeys aged between four and seven years. The result is a bold expression with notes of butterscotch, dried fruits, clover honey, and a wallop of cracked black pepper.
If you took a poll of bartenders’ favorite sherry bombs in the single-malt world, there’s a good chance many of them would mention Aberlour A’bunadh. This high-proof, single-malt Scotch was aged completely in Oloroso sherry casks, resulting in a decadent, dessert-like expression with flavors of dried cherries, sweet sherry, caramel, vanilla, and a gentle, nutty sweetness.
When it comes to bargain bourbons, it’s difficult to beat the price-to-quality ratio of classic Maker’s Mark. A step up would be its Cask Strength. This non-chill-filtered expression is surprisingly smooth and soft, with notes of candied pecans, cinnamon sugar, caramel corn, vanilla beans, and just a hint of spice at the very end.
10. Laphroaig 10-Year-Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Laphroaig is a truly unique single-malt Scotch whisky. Known for its medicinal, briny, smoky flavors, its flagship expression is its 10-year-old. Recently, the distillery released a cask-strength version of the beloved tipple. It’s bold and potent, matured for 10 years in ex-bourbon barrels, and carries flavors like ocean brine, salted caramel, dried cherries, candied orange peel, oaky wood, and the peat smoke Islay drinkers have grown to expect.
There’s no doubt when the weather turns colder as we settle into winter, stouts take center stage. And while we enjoy all its iterations: standard stout, imperial stout, and robust barrel-aged stouts, we think this malty, chocolate-filled beer’s close cousin deserves a little respect as well. Of course, we’re talking about the oft-overlooked porter. And the best porters, oh buddy, they’ll have you rethinking your seasonal bevvie of choice.
For those uninitiated, the porter style had its genesis in England like many other iconic beer styles. It first appeared in the 1700s and is (you guessed it) named after porters—individuals tasked with transporting luggage.
A confusing origin story
“Stout is the direct descendant of porter. In the 1700s, it was common to use the word ‘stout’ to refer to a bolder, higher-alcohol version of any beer style, much in the same way we use the word ‘imperial’ today,” says Zach Fowle, advanced cicerone and head of marketing for Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. in Phoenix, AZ. “Porter was the most popular beer of the day, and over time, “stout porter” became a popular variant. But by the late 1800s, demand for regular porters evaporated, and stout porter shortened simply to stout.”
But more has changed between the 1800s and today than just our penchant for wearing top hats. “Today, most brewers seem to market beers as either stout or porter based on vibes, rather than on any notable stylistic differences,” he says.
Specifically, porters are known for their dark, almost pitch-black color and rich, sweet flavor profile. If you were to drink a porter and a stout side by side, you might even have difficulty discerning the differences between the two.
Stout versus porter is an enduring topic of discussion in the brewing industry. “While there’s no debating the porter came first—and stout used to be called stout porter, so it was a stronger version of a porter—the lines have become very blurred over the years,” says Rob Lightner, co-founder of East Brother Brewing in Richmond, CA.
“I would venture that even among professionals, a blind taste test would often yield inconclusive results,” says Lightner.
The difference between porters and stouts
Porters tend to be on the milder, more chocolatey end of the spectrum, Lightner says, whereas stouts are typically a little stronger and more roasty. Of course, this isn’t a hard and fast rule
Fowle agrees, “Porters tend to be fruitier, sweeter, and less bitter than stouts, with cocoa and caramel flavors in balance with dark malt bitterness. And stouts are usually hoppier, drier, maltier, and more coffee-forward—and may even have a touch of acidity.”
Whether or not they fit neatly into boxes, one thing’s for sure: both make for incredible cold-weather brews.
“As the nights grow longer, drinking a light, summery beer just doesn’t seem right,” says Fowle. “Porter is the perfect style for the transition to winter: warming and toasty yet not too heavy, with flavors of coffee, chocolate, and pie crust that correspond with autumn weather and holidays.”
It’s the perfect time to broaden your repretoire. Sweet, robust, warming, and well-suited to the season, here are the best porters to drink now.
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1. Deschutes Black Butte Porter
There are few porters more well-respected than Deschutes’ iconic Black Butte Porter. It’s brewed with Cascade and Tettnang hops as well as 2-row, Chocolate, Crystal, and Carapils malts as well as wheat. This 5.5% ABV year-round offering is great for cold-weather drinking because of its mix of roasted malts, coffee, and chocolate. It’s a robust, subtly sweet beer perfect for imbibing on a crisp fall night.
The key to 360-degree muscle: 90-degree eccentric isometrics. It might seem like we’re throwing a lot of geometry at you, but the concept behind time under tension (TUT) is simple, says Joel Seedman, PhD, owner of Advanced Human Performance: “Perform the lowering phase of a movement in a slow, controlled fashion, usually 3 to 5 seconds; pause in the stretched position, typically around 90 degrees; then perform the lifting phase in a powerful yet controlled fashion.” Believe us, a time-under-tension workout can humble even seasoned lifters…Eccentric isometrics are like the pressure cooker of training.
“Rather than mindlessly performing slow-tempo reps, you’re using the increased time under tension as a means to fine-tune your body mechanics and alignment, which requires more mental engagement and focus,” Seedman adds.
If you want to forge functional muscle mass and strength while simultaneously bulletproofing the joints and connective tissue, give this 10-move, full-body eccentric isometrics workout a go.
Directions
Perform the following moves as 90-degree eccentric isometrics following the above protocol. Use heavy weight, but not at the detriment of proper form. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between circuits. Perform once every 2 to 4 days for optimal results.
Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength
Circuit 1
Marius Bugge
A. Barbell Back Squat
Set a squat rack up with heavy weight, then grasp bar and step under it. Squeeze shoulder blades together, then stand to unrack bar and step back with feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale, hinge at hips and slowly bend knees to 90 degrees. Pause, keeping natural arch in low back, then extend through hips to powerfully stand. 3 x 4-6 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Renegade Row
Start in the top position of a pushup with hands shoulder-width apart on moderate-to-heavy dumbbells (shown). Explosively drive right elbow back to row dumbbell toward ribs while balancing on opposite hand and feet. Pause, then slowly lower weight, stopping a few inches above floor. Switch sides after all reps are done. 3 x 5 reps each side
Circuit 2
Marius Bugge
A. Dumbbell Bentover Row
Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding two moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in front of thighs, palms facing you. Push hips back and hinge torso forward so it’s nearly parallel to floor, soft bend in knees. Dumbbells should be near shins. Drive elbows back to row weights toward ribs. Pause, then slowly lower down for 3 to 5 seconds. 3 x 4-5 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised
Set an adjustable bench to a 30- to 45-degree angle and lie back with dumbbells in either hand. Engage core and lift legs off floor, flexing feet. Press weights overhead, palms in. Slowly lower to 90 degrees, staying tight and compact. Pause, then drive weights up directly over chest. 3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 3
Marius Bugge
A. Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat
Stand lunge-length in front of a flat bench, holding heavy dumbbells in each hand by your sides, palms facing in. Rest the ball on top (shoe’s laces) of your right foot behind you on the bench. Slowly lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause, then drive through your heel to stand. Switch sides after all reps are complete. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Marius Bugge
B. Single-leg Romanian Deadlift
Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumbbells or kettlebells. Drive right leg up, foot flexed, knee aligned with hip, making a 90-degree angle. Hinge at hips as you slowly lever your torso toward floor, lowering weights and driving right leg back for counterbalance. Hold, then squeeze glutes to reverse. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Circuit 4
Marius Bugge
A. Pullup
Hang from a pullup bar using an overhand grip with legs extended and feet flexed. Engage lats and draw shoulders down your back, then pull yourself up until chin is higher than hands. Pause at the top, then slowly lower. Pause at bottom, then reset before your next rep. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press
Hold a bar with moderate-to-heavy load at shoulder level with forearms perpendicular to floor. Kneel at end of bench with feet flexed to grip edge for support. Inhale, engage your core and glutes, then press the bar overhead, pushing your head forward so it passes your face, exhaling at the top. Slowly lower until elbows are at 90 degrees, then hold to maintain tension. Begin your next rep from here. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 5
A. Dumbbell Pushup
Place hands on dumbbells (this provides greater range of motion) at shoulder width and feet wider than shoulder width with just toes touching the ground. Keep head neutral and hips high to increase tension on core, chest and tris and reduce stress on spine. Slowly lower to the floor. Stop once elbows hit 90 degrees, pause, then push up to start. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
B. Biceps Curl
Stand with feet hip-width apart with moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in each hand hanging by sides. Engage biceps to curl the weights up, keeping upper arms still. Pause at the top, then lower slowly. Don’t let arms drop all the way down to keep greater time under tension on biceps. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
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If you haven’t picked up a jump rope since elementary school, you’re missing out on a fantastic cardio workout. Not only will you burn a ton of calories in a short amount of time—200 to 300 calories in 15 minutes—but jump ropes can also improve your coordination and agility. Better yet, jumping rope doesn’t require much space, so it’s easy to do at home, and it’s often more mentally stimulating than jogging or swimming.
Choosing a Jump Rope
When deciding which jump rope is best for you, it’s important to determine what your goals are. While lightweight speed ropes are popular for cardio-focused training, weighted or drag ropes will be best for those focused on strength training.
No matter what your training goals are, we’ve got you covered with this roundup of 10 jump ropes from top brands including Crossrope, TRX, Rogue, and more.
The Best Jump Ropes of 2022
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