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Hazmat
Hazmat whiskey is bottled at 140 proof (70% ABV) or higher, which puts it above the limit for what passengers can legally carry on a commercial flight. The nickname comes from that classification. These are the most concentrated bottles on the shelf, and every one below is a Barrel Shoppe selection.
5 bottles
2 Shoppe Exclusives
Shoppe Exclusive
Augusta Distillery
Buckner’s 13 Year Single Barrel Bourbon HAZMAT Shoppe Exclusive
142 proof750 mlHazmat
$280In stock
Sale
New Louisville Barrel House
HAZ-MATT 8 Year Bourbon 142 Proof HAZMAT Shoppe Exclusive
142 proof750 mlHazmat
$200$250In stock
What "hazmat" actually means
It is not a distillery term and it is not on any label. It is what collectors call whiskey bottled at or above 140 proof, which is 70% alcohol by volume.
The threshold comes from transport rules. Spirits above 70% ABV are classed as a hazardous material for air travel, so you cannot bring one home in a carry-on or a checked bag. That restriction is the reason the nickname stuck, and it is also part of why these bottles are hard to find outside the distillery gift shops and specialist retailers that can ship them properly.
Why anyone wants whiskey this strong
Nothing was added and almost nothing was taken away. A hazmat bottle is barrel strength in its most extreme form: the barrel reached that proof on its own, through years of aging in conditions that concentrated rather than diluted it.
What you get is density. Flavors that would be faint at 90 proof arrive at full volume. And because you can always add water, a hazmat pour is effectively several whiskeys in one bottle. Taste it neat, then open it up a few drops at a time and it will keep changing.
How to drink it
Start with a small pour, neat, and take a short sip to calibrate. Then add water deliberately, a few drops at a time, tasting between additions. Most hazmat whiskeys open up substantially somewhere between 110 and 120 proof. There is no correct landing point, and finding yours is the point.
A large ice cube works too, though it moves faster and you have less control over where it ends up.
What is hazmat whiskey?
Whiskey bottled at 140 proof (70% ABV) or above. At that strength it exceeds the limit for what can be carried on a commercial aircraft, which is where the nickname comes from.
What proof is hazmat whiskey?
140 proof or higher, meaning 70% alcohol by volume or more. Some bottles reach into the 150s and above.
Why can't you fly with hazmat whiskey?
Spirits above 70% ABV are classified as hazardous materials for air transport, so they are not permitted in carry-on or checked luggage on commercial flights regardless of quantity.
Is hazmat whiskey the same as barrel proof?
Hazmat is a subset of barrel proof. All hazmat whiskey is barrel proof, but most barrel proof whiskey lands between 110 and 130 and never crosses the 140 threshold.
Should you add water to hazmat whiskey?
Most people do. Adding water a few drops at a time lowers the strength and releases aromas the alcohol was masking. Taste as you go and stop where it drinks best for you.