Updated March 2026.
Under $75 is a sticker, not a TTB grade. Bourbon still needs ≥51% corn, new charred oak, and ≥80 proof. Most grocery 80- and 90-proof 750 mL bottles clear $75 easily. Allocated names with a cheap suggested retail (Blanton’s, Weller, some 10-year lots) often miss $75 on the street. If the tag is $76, it is not under $75 that day. This is not a 2023 top-12 tasting. We will not invent a 2026 MSRP.
A 1.5-ounce 40% pour is one NIAAA drink; a 90-proof pour is 1.13. Related: under $100, under $50, for the money.
What actually stays under $75
| Lane | Usually under $75? |
|---|---|
| National 80–90 proof 750 mL | Yes in ordinary stores |
| Bottled-in-bond grocery (27 CFR 5.88) | Often |
| Allocated “$40 MSRP” | Street often no |
| 18- / 23-year lots | Usually no |
A 750 mL 45% bottle is about 19 drinks. Four 90-proof pours are about 4.5 drinks. NIAAA binge pattern is a health line, not a target. Hours are state ABC. Pour math: whiskey drinks.
Sources
- TTB 27 CFR 5.143; bottled-in-bond 27 CFR 5.88. NIAAA (December 2025). No invented ranking or 2026 MSRP.