Bottled In Bond

[ProofPositive]

I am sure this question will raise some eyebrows as well as make me sound like complete rookie and/or idiot. Just something I have always wondered about but just never asked....and the answer is probably very simple & logical. What does "Bottled In Bond" actually mean? There, go ahead and !!!

[bluesbassdad]

See this thread , courtesy of the Search function.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[T47]

I googled it and got this...

BOTTLED IN BOND

'Bottled in Bond' is a term used for whiskey that is stored in bonded warehouses, under government supervision, while it ages for at least 4 years. The reasoning behind this system is to delay payment of the excise tax until the whiskey is actually sold and shipped to the retailer.

I don't however know if it is accurate?

[TNbourbon]

Prior to the enactment of the "Bottled In Bond Act" -- the signing of which was the last official act of President Grover Cleveland in 1897 -- the collection of whiskey taxes (excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco accounted for more than half of federal revenues then!) was ad hoc: the 'revenuer' would show up at the distillery, often unannounced, and demand payment for any untaxed whiskey then in barrels.

In exchange for a more uniform and predictable tax-collection scheme (not to mention a somewhat lower rate), the distilleries agreed to:

<ul type="square">[*]bottle legal 'straight' whiskey from a single distilling season (e.g., 'Fall 1908', or 'Spring 1952')

[*]Bottle at 100 proof (or more)

[*]Store the whiskey before bottling for at least 4 years in a government-bonded (and supervised) warehouse.

None of this guaranteed great whiskey, but did guarantee REAL whiskey, which benefitted consumers just as the refined tax collections benefitted distillers.

In older bottlings with tax stamps (pre-1984), a BIB bottling will have a green stamp, and the distillation and bottling seasons are printed on them. That data no longer appears, but the labels DO still include a reference to the distillery (for example, DSP-KY-16, which is Stitzel-Weller).

[reg]

I like these two: J.W. Dant and Evan Williams. Reasonably priced and very tasty.

[Black85L98]

EW BIB $11.00 and yes it is nice and 100 proof.

[BourbonJoe]

EW BIB $11.00 and yes it is nice and 100 proof.

Is this the white label?

Joe

[ProofPositive]

Yep, that's the one. The Very Old HH with the bottle that sort of reminds you of the A1 bottle as someone said earlier.

[Black85L98]

Yes and it's a good value for 100 proof bourbon. I like all the EW stuff but this and the SB are is my favorite.

[JeffRenner]

the distilleries agreed to:

<ul type="square">[*]bottle legal 'straight' whiskey from a single distilling season (e.g., 'Fall 1908', or 'Spring 1952')

[*]Bottle at 100 proof (or more)

[*]Store the whiskey before bottling for at least 4 years in a government-bonded (and supervised) warehouse.

An additional requirement is that the whiskey all be produced "by the same distiller at the same distillery." That always has struck me as strange, as if he kicked the bucket during the season, it would preclude all of the whiskey being bonded. Maybe they could bottle separate bonded batches.

Jeff

[dgonano]

An additional requirement is that the whiskey all be produced "by the same distiller at the same distillery." That always has struck me as strange, as if he kicked the bucket during the season, it would preclude all of the whiskey being bonded. Maybe they could bottle separate bonded batches

Many "distillers" had whiskey made for them at other "distilleries" in a D.B.A. format. They could not mingle such whiskey with other barrels produced on their own premises (even though from the same distilling season) and call it B.I.B.

[cowdery]

Maybe they could bottle separate bonded batches.

That's exactly what they would do in that event.

Essentially, what bonded whiskey offers to the modern enthusiast is what I call "single batch bourbon." Ordinary straight bourbon can contain bourbon from different distilleries and of different ages. Single batch bourbon, like single barrel bourbon, reduces the distiller's options for improving a batch after it has aged. As such, it is a purer representation of the distiller's efforts.

[Black85L98]

reduces the distiller's options for improving a batch after it has aged. As such, it is a purer representation of the distiller's efforts.

Excellent