🥃What does Bottled-In-Bond Whiskey mean and Why do we Love it So Much?

As detailed in the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, the term "bonded" means that an American-produced distilled meets a number of quality requirements. Such a liquid must:

Be the product of one distillation season (January-June or July-December) and one Distillery
Be aged in a federally bonded warehouse for AT LEAST 4 years
Be at least 50% alcohol, 100 proof

Additionally, the label must identify the distillery where it was distilled and, if different, where bottled.

At the time, there was a significant need for quality control over bourbon. Much of the whiskey sold at the time as adulterated by tobacco, iodine, or other substances to influence both taste and color. The Bottled-In-Bond act created a tax incentive for producers to meat these requirements by allowing them to delay the payment of excise taxes.

You can view the current regulation text here: Title 27

Comparison to Straight Whiskey

The term "Straight Whiskey" is also regulated by law and has the following requirements:

Distilled from fermented grain mash to a concentration not exceeding 80% alcohol by volume
Aged in new charred oak barrels for at least two years at no greater than 62.5% entry concentration
Bottled at 80 proof or higher

Manufactures are only allowed batch whiskies from different barrels/distilleries, chill filtering, and adding water to reduce the proof. If aged for less than four years, the label must state the actual age of the product. Lastly, if an age is presented on the label, it must be the youngest vintage in the bottle.

Coloring of straight whiskey is forbidden. Blended whiskeys can have coloring or gain alcohol components but must still be at least 20% straight whiskey.

A horse makes whiskey at a still in the workshop

Applied to Bourbon

Believe it or not, the term "Bourbon" also has legal requirements:

Must be produced in the US or is Territories
Made from a grain mix of at least 51% corn distilled to no more than 80% AB. It'
Aged in new charred oak barrels for at least two years at no greater than 62.5% entry concentration
Bottled at 80 proof or higher

Note that there is no minimum age for bourbon but it must be all of the conditions of straight whiskey to be called "Straight Bourbon". Also, it does not have to be distilled or aged in Kentucky, though most bourbon is.

Bottled-in-Bond Today

Two Whiskey Glasses glimmer in the light on a hardwood table

While some consider the "Bonded" moniker archaic as many producers meet and exceed all but the bonded warehouse requirement, Bottled-In-Bond offerings remain a favorite of Whiskey enjoyers everywhere. Much like the German beer purity laws, bonded whiskey is part of the cultural tapestry of the US. Many bonded bourbons are priced aggressively as everyman's drinks due to their traditional market fits and branding. For the money, consumers get a relatively strong pour with assurances as to minimum age and quality. It is my suspicion that producers also are reluctant to significantly tamper with the quality of offerings going back more than 100 years with the upside that many of these budget friendly offerings retain their historic quality.

A few Good Bottles

Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond - My favorite daily driver. One of the stores near me has 1.75L bottles for $26, truly unbeatable. This may be the best cost to quality indexed bottle of whiskey in the world. Check out our Evan Williams Bottled-In-Bond review here.
Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond - Formerly a six year old budget bottle, Heaven Hill now releases this bonded whiskey at 7 years age statement for around $45. A favorite of many! I'm just sad to see the extra year costing us more than double versus the legacy offering.
Mellow Corn - Corn Whiskey with a meme culture following. It won't be the best thing you've ever tasted but it's solid and there are few things like it on the market. Nostalgic branding to boot.
Old Fitzgerald - Heaven Hill puts out this premium offering a few times per year and people seek them out for the fancy decanter bottle. Expect to pay for this super premium bonded offering.

🥃Review #30: Kirkland Bourbon Casked Rum XO

XO stands for "Extra Old" but how does this bottle of Bourbon Casked Rum from Costco's Kirkland Signature line measure up? 📚 Background: Finished in used Cognac backs, this bottle is a product of Guatemala, imported for Costco by MISA IMPORTS out of Dallas Texas. MISA, named after the founder's children Michael and Sarah, started primarily as a sourcing partner for fine wines, but has since expanded operations into sourcing spirits. MISA's rum brand partners include 1731 , Autentico Nativo , and Navy Island. We would have to guess the maker if not for the back label which clearly identifies one Olivier Dumont, Master Blender. Mr. Dumont works for Les Bienheureux , a French company growing at an alarming rate that has both a foothold in French Whisky and Costa Rican Rum. Les Bienheureux is the company behind "El Pasador De Oro " (roughly translated as "Gold Pin") which has two widely available iterations. The XO version retails for $46.99 and...

🥃Review #15 Kirkland Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon 2024

Costco's liquor store is a thing of beauty. While not every Kirkland edition is a hit, there are enough standouts on a fun per dollar ratio to always merit a look. Almost all of the house brands are less than $30, and I'm always excited to take a long shot when the new seasonal releases come around. 📚 Background: Distilled by Barton 1792 in Bardstown Kentucky, Kirkland Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey hits the shelves a few times a year. Mine was from batch 1124. The bottle presentation is supposed to evoke the same feel as other small batch whiskeys and there is a decorative purity seal that is reminiscent of the ever reliable bottled in bond green filigree, albeit in a meaningless red. Unlike its bonded brethren, this edition comes in under 100 proof and does not have any age statement. There's not a whole lot of additional information provided by Costco or the distiller, but we can reasonably assume that it shares a similar pedigree as the entry level 1792...

🥃Review #29: Kirkland Blended Canadian Whisky - Is it Crown Royal?

Awarded 91 points and a gold medal by the Beverage Tasting Institute, Kirkland Canadian Whisky is known a great value and many in the popular culture have alleged that it is repackaged Crown Royal due to its relative quality for the price. But is it? 📚 Background: Kirkland first introduced their line of spirits in the 1990s and has expanded their offerings over time. While I wasn't able to find a first release date for this product, the first TTB label in the COLA database is from 2016. The whisky is imported for Costco by Wide World Importers in Louisville Kentucky. Digging a bit further reveals that Wide World Importers is an alternative name for SAZERAC . For me, this conclusively busts the popular myth that Kirkland Canadian is made by Crown Royal (a Diageo property). Sazerac has a number of Canadian Whisky brands in-house, including: Rich & Rare Reserve ($19.99 for 1.75L - No Age Statement), Seagram's VO ($22.99 for 1.75L - Aged Six Years),...

🥃 Review #32: James E. Pepper Decanter Barrel Proof

Named after Colonel James E. Pepper (1850-1906), noted horseman and master distiller, this lovely decanter styled bottle hails from a whiskey pedigree older than the American Revolution. Col. Pepper, third in his line to use the family recipe, convinced the state of Kentucky to change its laws to permit distillers to bottle their own whiskey, a right previously allocated to rectifiers (third party blenders/flavor makers) who had a history of adding adulterants or cutting whiskey to make an extra buck. Colonel Pepper began the tradition of affixed a signed seal to the bottle to denote its quality, a provision that became a hallmark of the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 for which he was a chief advocate. The Pepper family continued to operate the historic James E. Pepper Distillery in Lexington as well as the Woodford Reserve Distillery until 1967 when a slow whiskey market forced them to shutter the historic Lexington location and the family brand. In 2008, Amir Peay revived the hi...

🎮Call of Duty Zombies: The Drinking Game - Rules

Since its introduction in Call of Duty: World at War , Call of Duty Zombies has been a PvE staple for gamers everywhere and has appeared in many subsequent titles. In this post, we'll explore rules for turning a game of round-based zombies into a lovely drinking session. As with all drinking games, set limits before you begin and be sure to conduct yourself both legally and responsibly. Preparation To play the game, you'll need the following in addition to an internet connection, gaming device, and Call of Duty: A Party Sipper of your Choice - I recommend something relatively low ABV. We balanced the rules for a player of moderate ability and a sipper of 4-8% alcohol. Light beer is my go-to here since it has enough lovely hydrating waters to help stave off some small sadness. A Couple of Shots - I would pre-pour a couple of shots to have on hand. Again, lower end of ABV which for shots likely means 80 proof. Kirkland Canadian Whiskey, Tito's Vodka, or Lunazul Tequila wo...

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