The Outcomes
Alcohol
ABV is a number. How alcohol actually feels in the glass is something else entirely — a well-constructed 46% whisky can feel softer than a poorly made 40% spirit. That gap between number and perception is one of the most useful things Aurenloch can teach.
Low Proof
Roughly 15–30% ABV — liqueurs and lightly fortified styles.
Standard
Around 40% ABV — the common bottling strength for most spirits worldwide.
Higher Proof
Roughly 46–50% ABV — often bottled without chill filtration to preserve texture.
Cask / Barrel Strength
Roughly 55–65% ABV — bottled at or near the strength it left the cask.
Overproof
65%+ ABV — intensely concentrated, usually intended for careful sipping or mixing.
Dilution and proofing are Finishing choices, applied after distillation and maturation are already done — the same distillate can be bottled at very different points on this scale.