Bond... Bottled in Bond

We at Whiskey often get asked this question- What the hell does Bonded mean? (Yes, in that manner too!)

Bonded in this case does not have to do with a mullet sportin' bondsman or a reference to the classic Bond series (that would be a Vesper). The term "Bottled in Bond" in the Whiskey arena means an American-made spirit that has been aged and bottled according legal regulations set by the US govt's Standards of Identity for Distilled Spirits in the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897.

To be labeled as "Bottled-in-Bond" or "Bonded," the spirit must be the product of 1 distillation season and 1 distiller at 1 distillery. It must have been aged in a federally bonded warehouse under U.S. government supervision for at least 4 years and bottled at 100 proof (50% alcohol by volume). The bottled product's label must identify the distillery, where it was distilled and, if different, where it was bottled.

While the regulations apply to all spirits, in practice, most bonded spirits are whiskeys.

Currently In-house:

• Evan Williams White Label Bonded
  
• Heaven Hill Bourbon
• Henry McKenna Single Barrel
• JTS Brown Bourbon
• Mellow Corn Whiskey
• Old Fitzgerald Bourbon
• Old Grandad Bourbon
• Rittenhouse 100 Rye Whiskey