Updated May 2026.
80 proof is the federal whiskey floor — 40% ABV — not a “weak bourbon” ranking. A 1.5-ounce pour is one NIAAA standard drink. Jim Beam White Label and Basil Hayden print 80 on current brand/US labels. Maker’s Mark (90), Buffalo Trace (90), and Woodford Reserve (90.4) are not 80-proof bottles. This page is not a 2023 top-ten tasting. Higher proof is more ethanol in the same glass, not a better TTB class.
Related: Jim Beam proof, whiskey proof, 100-proof whiskey, Basil Hayden vs Buffalo Trace.
80 vs the bottles people mix up
| Bottle | Typical US proof | 1.5 oz drinks |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Beam White | 80 / 40% | 1.00 |
| Basil Hayden | 80 / 40% (brand) | 1.00 |
| Old Crow / Ancient Age | Often 80 — read the neck | 1.00 if 80 |
| Maker’s Mark / Buffalo Trace | 90 / 45% | 1.13 — not this page |
| Bonded / 101 | 100-101 | 1.25+ |
A 750 mL 80-proof bourbon is about 17 drinks. Four pours are four drinks. NIAAA binge pattern is a health line, not a target. No invented MSRP. Pour math: whiskey drinks.
Sources
- 27 CFR 5.143 whiskey/bourbon bottling floor 40% ABV.
- jimbeam.com White 80; beamdistilling.com Basil Hayden 80; makersmark.com 90; buffalotracedistillery.com 90; woodfordreserve.com 90.4 (prior pages).
- NIAAA December 2025.