When whiskey is described as “bound in the bottle,” it means that the alcohol has been produced, aged, and bottled in accordance with a certain set of U.S. government regulations. Over time, whiskies labeled as bottled in customs became less popular as consumers abandoned higher percentage bottlings in favor of lighter whisky styles such as bourbon and blended Scotch whisky, especially in the 1970s and 80s. Given the logistical demands of customs bottling, most distilleries decided that it no longer made sense to continue bottling whiskies in this way, but today the designation is making a comeback as consumers demand more transparency from the brands they consume. “Distillers were happy to keep their bottled brands on bail a secret for everyone except hardcore whiskey fans.” It is required by law that whisky bottled in Bond goes through strict hurdles. For example, the whisky brand must be distilled by a distillery during a single distillation season. The distillate must then be raised in a state-connected warehouse. For this reason, the Bottled In Bond label is unique in the expression of location. It`s a very territorial label, and it definitely makes sense for the place.
Over the past decade, well-known brands such as Jim Beam, Old Overholt, George Dickel, New Riff and more recently Jack Daniel`s have published related expressions of their whiskies for consumers looking for origin and quality. This shift in consumer behavior, coupled with bartenders showing a new interest in how high-strength spirits present themselves in a craft cocktail, has brought bottled whiskies back to life. This bonded whiskies boom has even led non-whisky producers like Massachusetts-based Privateer Rum to create their own bond bottle offerings, making it the first rum brand to use the term in more than 70 years. Bottled spirits can include everything from bourbon to rye whiskey, and recently, many brands have expanded to include the production and sale of bond rum, brandy, and tequila. Although the term may have started as a way to distinguish whisky from other spirits, it is now used to describe many distilled spirits. A common abbreviation for Bottled in Bond Spirits is simple: “BIB”. Today, bottled Bond whiskies are considered among the best spirits available and often offer excellent value for money. While the term “bottled in binding” doesn`t mean much to some drinkers, it`s a sign of quality and tradition for those who know it. Despite the many restrictions placed on Bottled in Bond whiskies, many popular brands have earned this designation. Some of the best-known brands produce bottled whiskies. Today`s whisky lover has more options than ever before.
Although there is little doubt about the legitimacy of what is in the bottle nowadays, the designation in the bottle bond still acts as an indicator of authenticity. Start exploring style with these 10 bottles. This bourbon was aged for four years and a month. It is filled with 50% ABV and is not cold filtered. Nowadays, whiskey drinkers complain about not knowing how old the whiskey they drink is, or maybe they don`t know who distilled it (note: it`s not always the same company that bottled it). Concerns about alcohol in the 19th century were less justified; You would be blessed if the whiskey you drink was whiskey. Bottled in Bond bourbon, it has been around for more than a century, but the style has seen a renaissance in recent years. The new distilleries finally saw their stocks reach the minimum age of 4 years set in the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897. Coupled with the constant stream of well-known producers coming out with new bottles and relaunched in Bond labels, it seems like there`s a new option on the shelves every week. There aren`t many bottled whiskies – they represent the smallest fraction of the U.S.
whisky market as a whole – but these five are the best of the best. They are delicious in themselves, they work wonderfully in cocktails and they are priced in motion. But they may no longer be such a relative boon. BiBs like Old Grand-Dad have never been hip or sexy – their target market hasn`t been the same as that of higher-end, higher-priced brands. But now that more and more drinkers are discovering the delights of the bottle in customs, the higher prices may not be far behind. Which upsets fans like Noah Rothbaum. “I don`t like to talk to people about Bottle-in-Bond,” he says. “I`d rather they didn`t know so prices would stay low.” We apologize for spreading the word. Heaven Hill`s Old Fitzgerald Bourbon was distilled in 2004 and bottled in 2021 as part of the Decanter series.
This is the oldest version of the series to date and is priced at $185. The whisky has a beak of wheat puree and has been matured for 17 years. It is bottled with 50% ABV as required by the regulations on bonds. The Bottled in Bond Act of 1897 was introduced to give consumers a guarantee of quality and authenticity when it comes to their whisky. These rules stipulate that whisky is produced in a single distillery, aged in oak barrels for at least four years and bottled with 100 proofs. In addition, the whisky must mature in a federal customs warehouse and be bottled under the supervision of the federal government. Most BiBs are not much longer than the legally required four years (they are not required to publish age information, and few do). Henry McKenna is the exception, who spent an entire decade in the woods. It is a one-barrel bourbon, which means that each bottle contains whisky from a single barrel and not a blend. The appeal of the single-barrel is that each barrel tastes slightly different, so each bottle is a unique consumption experience, even if the overall characteristics remain the same.
It is a delicious whisky that will appeal to all bourbon lovers. The whisky aromas are balanced and complex, with notes of oak, caramel and vanilla. The finish is long and smooth, with a hint of softness. Bottled in Bond is a label for an American-made distilled beverage that has matured and bottled in accordance with a number of legal regulations contained in the U.S. government`s identity standards for distilled spirits[1] as originally set out in the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. In response to the widespread falsification of American whiskey, the law made the federal government the guarantor of a spirit`s authenticity, gave producers a tax incentive to participate, and helped ensure proper accounting and eventual collection of the tax due. Although the regulations apply to all spirits, most related spirits are in practice whiskies. In different categories of alcoholic beverages, from whisky to wine, there are certain terms, certifications of authenticity and specifications that provide consumers with quality assurance and allow them to make informed decisions about the products they buy. In the world of aged American spirits, most often whiskey, bottle-in-bond is one of those phrases, and it has appeared more frequently as Soakers seek authenticity in the spirits they consume.
Think of bottling (or bonded) as today`s “artisanal” certification. Bartenders are fans of bound whiskies because the bold, concentrated flavor of the tougher alcohol resists blenders well in cocktails, and their low price compared to more sophisticated aged whiskies means they`re also perfect for the end result. Justin Lavenue, owner of the Roosevelt Room in Austin, said, “The bartender`s view is that you get more flavor with the same amount of alcohol. There is less water [added] to dilute it less, so you get more flavor in the drink if you use the same amount of whiskey. From the point of view of a bar owner, you have such good products. which are also profitable. In addition to producing bound bourbon,[5] some companies produce bound rye whiskey, corn whiskey, and apple jack. [6] Heaven Hill abandoned its 6-year-old Bottled in Bond in 2018 and replaced it with this slightly older version. The price has also gone up, but the 7-year-old, #4 in our 2019 Top 20 is also more prevalent, while the previous one was only exclusive to Kentucky. We`re always happy when premium whiskey becomes more accessible, and it`s a particularly delicious bourbon, with maismuffines and caramel on the nose and notes of cloves and salty herbs on the palate. Bottled-in-Bond is a designation created in 1897 by the Bottled in Bond Act. The purpose of the law was to protect the integrity and authenticity of older spirits in America.
