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The inscription on the whiskey label can tell a lot about the drink. The label “bottled in bond (bottled in a bonded warehouse)” is found only on bourbon (American corn whiskey) and means that the products are produced under government control. The standard was adopted over a hundred years ago, but distilleries still respect this law with great respect and produce products in full compliance with its requirements.
History of the bottled in bond standard
Until the end of the XNUMXth century, there were no standards for the production of whiskey in the United States, which opened up a wide field for counterfeiters. Under the guise of bourbon, they often sold neutral alcohol, tinted with tobacco, iodine, burnt bones or beets. In addition, the lack of state regulation made it possible for producers to save money and sell “green” rectified wine without proper aging in barrels. The taste was improved with fruit juices, syrups or honey.
The current market situation worried one of the founders of the Buffalo Trace distillery, Colonel Edmund Taylor, who took an active part in the political life of the country and for twenty years served as mayor of Frankfurt, Kentucky. The Colonel advocated the purity of whiskey and turned to the Secretary of the Treasury, John G. Calisle, for support. Together they drafted the Distilled Beverage Standards Act and in 1897 secured its passage by the US Congress.
The bottled in bond marking on the label meant that the manufacturer had complied with all the requirements of the law, namely:
- overtook the distillate in a strictly defined season (summer or winter);
- produced alcohol at one plant;
- aged bourbon for at least four years in a federal customs warehouse (aging under state supervision served as a guarantee of quality);
- you can only dilute the distillate with water, any other additives (including caramel) are not allowed;
- Bourbon must be 50% ABV.
State control served as a guarantee of the purity of whiskey – winemakers were deprived of the opportunity to sell blends from bourbon made at different times, as well as use dyes or other additives. In return, the senators provided a number of tax incentives for manufacturers that comply with these requirements.
It is believed that the bottled in bond standard was the first legislative act in the field of consumer protection in the United States – quality requirements for other food products appeared much later.
The law is valid to this day, however, in the 60s of the XX century, the popularity of this type of bourbon began to decline, and in 1984 the standard was simplified – the mandatory mention of production and aging periods was removed.
Some consumers consider the bottled in bond label to be an indicator of high quality, while others do not take it seriously. However, American manufacturers strictly comply with the requirements of the standard and consider it the best in the world. Due to the large influx of blended whiskey into the market, the “bonded bottled” label remains a guarantee of quality for buyers anywhere in the world.
Famous brands of bourbon bottled in bond
Jack Daniel’s Bottled in-Bond, 50%
Bourbon entered the market in 2018 and was initially sold only in duty-free shops. Standard JD is produced without age, but in this case, you can be sure that all spirits are produced in the same “season” of distillation and aged for at least four years. The aroma of the drink is sharper due to the increased strength and is a composition of roasted corn, menthol and charcoal. The taste is sweet, with bright grainy undertones and hints of spices: cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon. The bouquet of the drink is seriously different from the popular No. 7, so you should try it at least once to feel the difference.
George Dickel Bottled in Bond, 50%
Whiskey 13 years old from spirits distilled in 2005. The aroma of the drink is dominated by nut tones. In the flavor bouquet, notes of peanuts are complemented by notes of fresh apples and cherry jam. The debut release of “bond” bourbon from Cascade Hollow Distilling Co. was awarded international competitions, so in 2020 the company decided to consolidate its success by releasing bourbon from 2008 distillates.
Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch Bourbon, 50%
Buffalo Trace named the bourbon after the author of the law, Colonel Taylor. Whiskey is produced in small batches, so it is not easy to find it on sale. Interestingly, the manufacturer did not place the bottled in bond marking on the label, deciding that the name of the famous winemaker speaks for itself. Nevertheless, all the requirements of the standard for production and aging are thoroughly met. Corn and maple notes are felt in the aroma of the drink, tones of mint and licorice are added to the taste, turning into an aftertaste.
