What is Bottled-in-Bond?

Bottled In Bond is a term that came about due to The Bottled-In-Bond Act of 1897.

In the mid 1800’s the whiskey market was booming, and distilleries couldn’t produce enough for America’s consumption. Thus, many companies sought to capitalize on the whiskey craze with less than ethical practices.

To increase profits, many companies would source potentially dangerously produced grain spirits from irreputable sources. Many companies would put false advertising statements to indicate quality, and some even led to poisoning customers then closing shop and vanishing overnight, only to reopen under a different name weeks later.

The Bottled In Bond Act of 1897 was put into place to convey to consumers that what was inside the bottle had been certified by the government to be exactly what it said it was.

• The Bottled in Bond Act required companies to adhere to a strict standard of distillation practices.
• It must be the product of a single distillation season by a single distiller at a single distillery
• It must be stored and bottled in a bonded warehouse under US governmental supervision for no less than 4 years
• It does not allow the removal or addition of material to alter the substance in any way from the original product (except water to proof)
• It must be bottled at 100 proof
• It must have the green Bottled in Bond label placed over the cork
• It must indicate name and location of the distillery, and indicate how much spirits are in the bottle.