🥃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.

🥃📰 First Look: NEW Old Fitzgerald 7-Year Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon

In a TTB filing , Heaven Hill soft announces a new Old Fitzgerald edition whiskey: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 7-Year Bourbon. The Old Fitzgerald decanter line has long been a coveted edition, but low supply and high demand means that it is terribly hard to find, particularly for anything close to suggested retail price. Official press from the distiller has not yet occurred, but we have put together the following details. About Old Fitzgerald From Heaven Hill's wheated mash bill (68% Corn, 20% Wheat, 12% Barley), the Old Fitzgerald decanter series is a Bottled-in-Bond offering released twice annually. This mash bill is also likely shared by the Larceny series of products, all aged in #3 char barrels. Old Fitzgerald Decanter Series Old Fitzgerald 7-Year Bottled-in-Bond credit @Bourbonconky posted on X.com by Bourb Your Enthusiasm The new product will have a seven year age statement, and per the bottled-in-bond act will consist of bourbon produced by Heaven Hill wit...

🥃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 barrels, 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 a...

🍺🍷🥃 Beer, Wine, and Spirits Rebate Website Master List

If there is anything I love more than a good drink, it's saving money buying that good drink! The rules for providing discounts on alcohol differ substantially between states with some allowing outright discounts or coupons and others entirely disallowing any sort of purchase incentive. Thankfully though, in my native Georgia as well as most states, a simple reimbursement approach is permissible. Alcohol Rebate Site Master List The following sites are relatively stable for each manufacturer. New offers usually come out every few months. None of these are affiliate links and I provide no assurance as to the process. I have saved so much money using rebates and hope you have similar success. Best practices and general process advice will be presented at the bottom. New sites will be added as I uncover them. Beer Rebates Boston Beer Company Brands - Angry Orchard, Dogfish head, Hard Mountain Dew, Samuel Adams, Sun Crusher, Truly, and Twisted Tea. Some brands may not have active...

🥃 Review #40: Kirkland Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2024)

Like Costco's other Scotches, the Kirkland Signature Islay Single Malt is bottled for Alexander Murray and imported by MISA Imports after being distilled and aged in Scotland (TTB.gov plant registry TX-I-1277). The isle of Islay is one of the southern most islands in Scotland and is one of the five whisky regions ensconced in law. There are only nine active distilleries on the island, and the Islay style is typified by strong peat or smoky flavors. As a single malt, we know that the juice in this bottle comes entirely from one of those nine! All of the distilleries are significantly smaller than Glenlivet and many of the mainland producers. Taste testing has people split between Caol Illa, Bruichladdich (Port Charlotte), and Bunnahabhain as being the source. Caol Illa and Laphroig both have done deals for private brand scotch without rights to name the source distillery, but Laphroig does not match the flavor profile for this bottle. Realistically, Caol Illa is the most likely cand...

🥃 Review #43: Jim Beam Black Label 7-Year Bourbon

Upgraded in both age statement and reasonable proof, Jim Beam Black Label has a new label to match the reinvigorated specs as of 2024. Bourbon stocks have been under pressure for around a decade, but exploding producer capacity has finally caught up just a demand begins to lag. As always, the brutality of supply and demand can have some upsides, and this is bottle is one. Prior to 2015 Black Label actually had an eight year age statement. Perhaps we'll see it again if trends continue. From a design perspective, this bottle joins Jim Beam Double Oaked, Devil's Cut, Special Releases , and Single Barrel at the premium end of the Jim Beam range, billed as an affordable step up from a litter of flavored versions of the iconic white label. 🛒 Sourced: $27.99 - Total Wine, GA - 750ml, also commonly available in 1.75L in the low $40s. I actually grabbed a gift set which included two lovely little rocks glasses for $3 extra. Black Label is about $10 more expensive than...

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