Updated June 2026.
There is no official “under $30” whiskey list and we will not reprint 2022 scores. The shelf tag is the price. Widely distributed 80–100 proof bottles — Evan Williams Black, Jim Beam White, Old Grand-Dad 86/100, some Canadian and Irish 80-proof — often land under $30 in US grocery and control stores. Allocation bourbon suggested-retail can be under $30; street often is not. A 1.5-ounce 80-proof pour is one NIAAA standard drink.
Proof matters more than the sticker for mixing. Bonded 100 proof is a cheap upgrade when you see it. Related: cheap bourbon, bourbon under $30.
What “under $30” usually is not a promise
| Type | Often-seen bottles | Caveat |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky bourbon 80–86 | Evan Williams Black, Jim Beam White, Old Crow | Shelf tag moves. No 2026 MSRP |
| Higher proof on a budget | Old Grand-Dad 100, Beam Bonded, EW Bonded | Bonded = 100 proof (27 CFR 5.88) |
| Rye / Irish / Canadian | Old Overholt, Jameson, Canadian Club — when the tag says so | Different types under 5.143 |
| Skip the promise | Buffalo Trace / Weller “MSRP” | Allocation; street ≠ sticker |
A 750 mL 40% bottle is about 17 drinks; 50% is about 21. Four pours are four drinks at 40%. NIAAA binge pattern is a health line, not a target. “Smooth” is not a legal type.
Sources
- TTB 27 CFR 5.143 whiskey types; 5.88 bonded.
- NIAAA (December 2025). No store-by-store 2026 prices. Shelf tag is primary.