Just when you thought you have learned everything there is to learn about certain spirits, a new term pops up and you find yourself completely unable to figure out what it means. As if getting all the nuances and differences among whiskey, bourbon, rye and scotch wasn’t exhausting enough, now you have to do some more learning. I can understand the frustration, but let me tell you one thing.
What you are about to find out today regarding the meaning of the term “bottled-in-bond” is certainly rather significant, especially from a legal point of view. So, while you might already be an expert on the taste of whiskey, I suggest you take some time to get familiar with the meaning of this particular term as well. Trust me – it will do you good. And, the best part is, the learning process won’t be tedious at all.
I know that you might be used to thinking that learning about legal stuff is boring and tiresome, which is probably why you have been postponing your decision to get informed about this particular concept, but here’s the thing. This is still whiskey we are talking about and whiskey is certainly never boring. If you aren’t sure that you’ll be entertained while learning, I suggest you pour yourself some whiskey and drink it while reading.
Okay, okay, that might not be the best suggestion, especially if you want to remember the information you get here. But, hey, one little shot of whiskey never hurt anyone, so feel free to use it as a warm up for your learning process. It’s time to learn what the bottled-in-bond term means and what it has to do with the legality of these spirits.
Bottled-In-Bond Explained
The end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century in United States was partly marked by the passing and implementing of the Bottled-In-Bond Act. This particular act required all spirits makers to produce and age their spirits in accordance with a certain set of strict legal rules and regulations. Its purpose was to finally be able to guarantee to the consumers that the label on the bottle clearly states what is contained inside.
To put it simply, this act was introduced in order to provide the consumers with clear information about what it is that they are actually drinking. Adding water to spread out their spirits supply was not an uncommon practice among certain unscrupulous manufacturers. This is exactly why a lot of trusted manufacturers of today are choosing to add the bottled-in-bond label on their product and advertise it as such.
Keep in mind, though, that there are also some products that qualify to be labeled like that but choose not to put these words on their bottles. In any case , this particular label guarantees transparency, as well as quality of the whiskey or other spirits that you are buying. The Bottled-In-Bond Act is regarded as one of the first examples of consumer protection laws.
Of course, in order to be able to earn this particular label, manufacturers need to follow some rigorous regulations and rules. I suppose it’s only fair that we take a quick look at those. This way, you will know exactly what to expect from the particular spirits you buy.
For starters, the particular spirit needs to be aged for at least 4 years in order to earn this specific label. In addition to that, it has to be aged in a bonded warehouse, while previously being made by a single distiller at a single distillery and during a single season. Of course, it also has to be properly and carefully bottled. As you can see, the bottled-in-bond label certainly isn’t that easily earned, which doesn’t come as a surprise, given the quality it is advertised for.
In case you need more info, you can go here: https://www.thedailybeast.com/why-every-drinker-should-know-what-bottled-in-bond-means
The Verdict
The most important thing you need to know when you see the bottled-in-bond label on a whiskey or another drink is that its quality will be amazing. These spirits are legally required to be produced in accordance with a set of standards. So, if you are looking to buy some spirits, it would be a good idea to pay attention to this label.
