Updated March 2026.
“Under $100” is store English, not a TTB class. Rye whisky has to be at least 51% rye grain, distilled at ≤160 proof, and bottled at ≥80 proof. A 1.5-ounce pour is one NIAAA drink at 40% and 1.25 at 50%. We will not invent a 2026 ranking or MSRP. Street tags move; allocated bottles can clear $100 even when list copy does not.
Related: rye to drink straight, WhistlePig line, Bulleit rye vs bourbon.
What the class requires
| Reading tool | What it has to mean |
|---|---|
| Rye whisky | ≥51% rye; ≥80 proof (27 CFR 5.143) |
| Straight rye | Plus the straight-whisky aging rules |
| 100 proof / BiB | Bonded is 100 and 5.88 — not every 100-proof rye is bonded |
| WhistlePig 10 | 100 proof + “high Rye” official — not 100% rye |
A 750 mL 50% bottle is about 21 drinks. Four 90-proof pours are about 4.5 drinks. Pour math: whiskey drinks.
Sources
- TTB 27 CFR 5.143 (rye); 5.88 (bottled in bond). WhistlePig 10: 100 proof + high rye on whistlepigwhiskey.com (prior official fetch).
- NIAAA December 2025. Street ≠ list.
- (27 CFR 5.143)