What does bottled in bond mean?

When I first got into Bourbon I would always notice the term "Bottled In Bond" on various bottles. Out of curiosity I would try them and generally, I liked them, but I never knew what the term meant.

As it turns out Bottled In Bond is a very difficult designation for Bourbons to get, and many distillers wear this designation with pride, not only because of its difficulty to achieve but also because of what it represents to the industry as a whole.

Bottled In Bond, in short, is a designation that any aged spirit (Bourbon, Rum, etc..) can obtain. The Spirit has to meet the following requirements to be honored with the Bottled in Bond designation:

The spirit has to be produced in a single Season (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer).
The spirit needs to mature in a U.S. bonded warehouse (A Warehouse that is secure and duty-free) for a minimum of 4 years.
The Spirit must be bottled at 50% ABV (100 proof).

While these requirements may seem fairly easy to achieve; reality can prove to be different. When producing a spirit like Bourbon, which has specific requirements on its own that you can read about here, the balancing act these distillers need to do to obtain all these different designations can be difficult and is more of an art form.

As a consumer though, why should we care?

Well, there are a couple of reasons, and not the least of which is that the bourbon is aged a minimum of 4 years, and is at a very drinkable proof level. With those two factors, the likelihood that you will enjoy that Bourbon is very high. Secondly, especially from a historical perspective, it ensures quality. This designation came to be because the government wanted a way to try to protect the integrity of aged spirits in America. At the time bootleggers would "cut" the aged spirits with non-aged spirits, or even in some cases some lethal chemicals.

Why do distillers go through this hassle today though?

In simple terms, I believe that it is due to cost savings. Distilling can be an expensive process, especially with government fees. Earning the Bottled in Bond designation is a great way to cut down on some of those fees due to the government allowing them to delay payment on the excise tax until the spirit is fully matured (when the 4+ years are over).

Next time you are looking for a good bottle, that has some great flavors, I would highly recommend trying a Bottled in Bond one. With a guaranteed great proof level and an aging amount of at least 4 years, you are almost guaranteed a great pour that is easy to drink, but also has a complex flavor! When you check one out, rate it on the app NEAT: Whiskey Finder!.