The Story Behind ‘Bottled in Bond’: How a Law Changed the Whiskey Industry Forever
If you enjoy drinking American Whiskey, you’ve probably seen bottles labeled “Bottled in Bond,” from big producers like Heaven Hill and its brands like Henry McKenna, Evan Williams White Label and Old Fitzgerald, all the way to craft producers like New Riff and Wilderness Trail. The designation though goes far further than just simple marketing, as the protected term has deep and important roots in the history of American distillation.
Prior to the 1900s, production of whiskey in the United States was booming. But with its success came producers looking to capitalize on the popularity any way they could. Despite whatever the labels would say, makers would modify their products with additives to give their whiskey added flavor and color to try and entice consumers while providing little to no transparency.
Not everyone in the industry was willing to sacrifice their integrity to make money, though. Col. Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr., creator of the Old Taylor bourbon brand and namesake for Buffalo Trace’s E.H. Taylor brand, headed a coalition to establish legal protections to guarantee a level of quality in the country’s native spirit. Working with the Secretary of the Treasury, John G. Carlisle, they were able to get the Bottled-In-Bond Act of 1897 to pass through legislature and signed into law on March 3 of that year.
What Does ‘Bottled in Bond’ Mean?
In order to be labeled “Bottled in Bond,” distilleries had to follow explicit regulations. These were:
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Uniform composition: The whiskey must come from the same distiller, be made with the same ingredients, and be produced in the same distillation season.
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Aged for at least 4 years: The whiskey must age for a minimum of four years in wooden containers in a federally bonded warehouse.
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Unadulterated: The whiskey must remain in its natural form, without additives or changes (filtration is allowed as long as it doesn’t add anything).
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100 proof: The whiskey must be reduced to 50% ABV (100 proof) using pure water.
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Government oversight: Treasury agents inspected bonded warehouses to ensure distillers complied with the regulations. The government’s involvement guaranteed product integrity, becoming the first U.S. Consumer Protection Act.
While Col. Taylor pushed the act in order to protect bourbon, the law actually covers nearly every category of spirit. Rye whiskeys, brandy, rum and corn whiskey can and are produced with the same regulations. Even vodka and gin can be labeled Bottled in Bond, but the former needs to be aged in paraffin or similar substance to prevent interaction with the wooden container, while the latter can only be aged in paraffin-lined or unlined wooden containers.
The passage of the Bottled-In-Bond Act paved the way for more laws establishing the U.S. government as the confirming body to make sure customers were buying the products advertised. The Pure Food and Drug act was passed in 1906, and shortly after that, President William Howard Taft legally defined “Straight Whiskey” as we know it today.
In 1964, “Bourbon” became defined and recognized as a uniquely American product. While some producers like to stick to the older ways of production and marketing or try to push the limits of labelling regulations, these laws have shaped the whiskey we love to drink today with high standards that have earned respect throughout the world.
