Pls Define BIB

[Phischy]

So BIB means Bottled in Bond. But what does that mean? I checked the FAQ but no info there. Please let me know what this means. Thanks.

[bluesbassdad]

An advanced search revealed this.

There may be better info in other threads.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[ggilbertva]

While the posts reveal the basis behind the BIB act related to taxes, I believe there were other factors and conditions that made a whiskey BIB.

1. The whiskey had to be produced during a single distilling season

2. Must be bottled at 100 proof

3. Aged at least 4 years

Additionally, whiskey during the time the act was initiated was often tampered with (addition of flavorings, colorings, etc.) so what you bought wasn't really straight whiskey. The Bond act was a form of guarantee that what you purchased was 100% straight whiskey and the BIB designation was a badge of quality. In this day and age, we don't have that problem and the BIB designation may be somewhat archaic.

I hope this helps answer your question.

[barturtle]

In this day and age, we don't have that problem and the BIB designation may be somewhat archaic.

Ah, but also it requires it to be the product of one distillery. I think this is not archaic. This means Beam can't blend from their three distilleries, nor can anyone else blend with bought stock. It is the equivalent on todays single vineyard wines, single malt scotches, single plantation coffees and chocolates.

[ggilbertva]

Ah, but also it requires it to be the product of one distillery. I think this is not archaic. This means Beam can't blend from their three distilleries, nor can anyone else blend with bought stock. It is the equivalent on todays single vineyard wines, single malt scotches, single plantation coffees and chocolates.

You are correct sir. My oversight on the single distillery...that should have been #4.

My comment that it may be archaic was more in reference to the badge of quality. In this day and age, I don't naturally gravitate toward a BIB because it's a better quality than what's on the shelf. In 1897, I suspect that was the case.

[nickynick]

You are correct sir. My oversight on the single distillery...that should have been #4.

My comment that it may be archaic was more in reference to the badge of quality. In this day and age, I don't naturally gravitate toward a BIB because it's a better quality than what's on the shelf. In 1897, I suspect that was the case.

Not only the same distillery, but the same distilling season, and same distiller.

[TBoner]

My comment that it may be archaic was more in reference to the badge of quality. In this day and age, I don't naturally gravitate toward a BIB because it's a better quality than what's on the shelf. In 1897, I suspect that was the case.

I definitely do gravitate toward BIB. Maybe it's just me, but I definitely feel like it means something in terms of quality. It could just be that there aren't too many BIBs outside of KY anymore, but the ones there are (McKenna, OGD, Tom Moore, etc.) seem to be consistently good. Not that Old Forester dropped the BIB designation on its 100 proofer, I tend to not desire it as much. Even though the whiskey always carried a 4-yr age statement, I think it was usually older, ALL of it (i.e., not a blending of various ages), and very good. Now it strikes me it's likely got some 4-yr, some 6-yr, etc., and it appeals to me less. It's not necessarily a bad thing to blend whiskeys of different ages, but I like the thought of a "single batch," so to speak.