The Bottled-in-Bond Act Fully Explained! - 125th Anniversary (1897-2022)

Before the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 there were no laws projecting the integrity of our Bourbon. To try to improve the taste and color, bar owners and rectifiers would dump things into young whiskey that you wouldn't want anywhere near your glass today. Enter the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, the very first consumer projection act in the U.S. This act brought respect to whiskey and provided the customer with the confidence that what they were buying was a quality product with nothing to hide. This consumer confidence ultimately led to a great rise in popularity of Bourbon, American Rye Whiskey, and even Corn Whiskey. Now, 125 years later, as of March 3rd, 2022, the Bottle-in-Bond category of whisk(e)y still holds the highest standards of any spirits.
To celebrate this amazing category of whiskey, we sat down with The Whiskey Professor himself, Bernie Lubbers, Evan Williams Brand Ambassador for the Heaven Hill Distillery. Our discussion took place at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience in Louisville, Kentucky.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:37 First Consumer Protection Act
1:01 What Used To Be Added to Whiskey!
1:30 The Rules of Bottled-in-Bond
3:43 The Relaunch of Evan Williams BiB
5:25 How Many Bottled-in-Bonds are out there?
6:53 What makes Bernie so into Bottled-in-Bond?
9:43 How To Read A Label
15:10 Why Bottled-in-Bond Almost Went Away
17:09 Tasting Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond
19:12 125th Anniversary of the Bottled-in-Bond Act
21:18 Cheers!
21:38 Wrap Up
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[@rogerpingleton9199]

Boy, you picked the right guy to explain BIB!!!

[@TheBourbonWrench]

Loved the military metaphors, actually got me to truly understand!

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Fun and educational?! Man, we've got it all! ;)

[@Dwilliams33]

Opening Old Forrester 1897 BIB for the first time tonight

[@RandallChase1]

Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond is and has been my go to for years!

[@kevinvitale8980]

When I first tried EW BIB, I was taken back how that moment was a clear ah-ha moment. Just been drinking it for a couple of years. Love it.

[@roger80465]

BIB was enacted before Pure Food and Drug Act. It's kind of like hockey. Jock straps/protective cups were in use many years before helmets. Priorities!

[@treytison1444]

I have a bottle of Evan Williams BIB right now. Sitting right between a bottle of Ironclad Straight and Buffalo Trace.

[@javieracosta3439]

Great to see his continued enthusiasm along with dropping some major knowledge. Fun episode guys!

[@inspectorwinship9538]

Great episode. I love BnB products and Evan Williams is one of the best.

[@beerme8949]

You can tell the Dude was excited to do this! Great episode! Cheers yall! 🥃

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Thanks!

[@bks7842]

Recently bought this bourbon, can't go wrong at this price point!

[@lilannalucey]

I keep a bottle of EW BIB at my parents house for making manhattans. I don't really do cocktails at home, but when I'm there and it hits happy hour time it's a round for all. Bernie must be an absolute blast to talk to. So much knowledge and charisma.

[@ItsBourbonNight]

For sure, we had the best time hanging out!

[@samuelrodriguez6707]

This is fantastic content. This video is so underrated. I love EW Bottle in Bond. Best value in bourbon.

[@thefreshprince8005]

He made some absolutely good points most men & women don’t know anything about whiskey.They buy cause how the bottle look or the name or the high price.That doesn’t mean it’s good quality whiskey.👌🏾

[@JAA87]

I just had a 10yr Henry McKenna and Old Forrester Bottled-In-Bond.. Incredible is an understatement!!!

[@newmennium]

Fantastic commercial guys. Love the long form and natural dialogue

[@jdkimple]

Bernie is one of my favorite bourbon presenters. Well done!

[@ItsBourbonNight]

What a great guy. Had such a blast making this episode.

[@aklasishman3855]

It’s actually $22 around me in nyc but still great value!!

[@chrisanderson1498]

This is wonderful!! I would love to see more and more videos like this. Great job Chad & Sara!! Thanks to Bernie also, for sharing his wealth of knowledge!! Cheers

[@tweezerjam]

I think 100ish proof is the optimal flavor/ kick ratio. 👍🏼 Holy crap i just noticed your sub count! Blowin’ up. ✊🏼

[@pengowando8325]

I would say this is the most excellent whiskey that is always in stock at my local corner store. Affordable? Yes. Delectable? Yes. Historical? Well, I love American history, and bonded bourbon has more than carved out its place in U.S. history whether or not you're simply a student or a full afficionado of good whiskey. The simple truth is that the classic way of making a good bourbon is still just as relevant and drinkable as it was over a century ago

[@christopherabresch6663]

Love some Bottled in Bond. Thank you for doing this. Talking to accounts and holding tastings with customers many people don’t know what the difference.

[@ChrisDominey]

Evan Williams BIB was one of my first bottles and definitely a repeat purchase.

[@marklinnell7167]

Drank black label for years. Discovered bib and like it way better. Always drink it neat.

[@chriss1757]

Great episode! Evan Williams BiB is my favorite utility bourbon. It can be sipped neat, on the rocks, and is great in cocktails!

[@dbunce10]

Great education. Thanks. Incredible VALUE!

[@onemileguy]

Great episode! I’ve already had trouble with finding this bottle consistently this year. It’s great stuff, can’t go wrong

[@paladonis]

So...ummm...think the Professor can send you ..oh I dunno...what's a good number...738 MORE of those cards and...I mean...that's a lot of cards for you. Maybe he can just send one to each one of the Patreons and we will just hold onto them for you! 🤣🤣🤣 Great episode. I love learning this stuff and Evan Williams Bottled in Bond is a favorite summer time Bourbon for me here in AZ as it works really well with ice and great in an Old Fashioned!

[@ItsBourbonNight]

How about an even 1,000? hahaha

[@paladonis]

@@ItsBourbonNight Deal!...I said on his behalf of which I have no authority to do! 🤣🤣

[@JrSVT]

EW BiB is ALWAYS on my bar. Such a great value and it's super tasty! Happy BIB day everyone! 🥃

[@chadmccune2935]

Great episode! Man it's fun seeing the passion!

[@sykorabr]

I came here to say I wanted to learn more about BiB and found your video. Very helpful and also picked up a bottle of EW BiB and that should be more than $20... Wow that was good!

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Awesome! Glad you learned some things and love the EW BiB!

[@yourdrinkingbuddy]

Cheers guys. Great video! 👍

[@fountainhead5885]

Great video you guys! I really enjoyed this one. Very informative and entertaining!

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Thank you!

[@XX-rs7sq]

I haven't had the opportunity to try a bottle and bonded yet. Definitely looking forward towards it now.

[@robguttridge6591]

I just found a Bottled-in-Bond brandy at the local liquor store: Christian Brothers Sacred Bond. It's pretty tasty, and not surprisingly it is a Heaven Hill product.

[@brocklanders6969]

Laird's (America's oldest distillery) makes a BiB Apple Brandy.

[@lezlielockett3461]

Love this video!!! Lot's of great info 👍

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Thanks!

[@davidg5308]

Great episode and great ambassador! We were at Heaven Hill about the same time this was posted and although the tasting was great, selections to buy were very disappointing. Fast forward to today, I finally found a Toasted Elijah Craig that we tasted and it's just as great as we tasted then. Today, local grocery was clearing out their EW BIB and got 3...couldn't resist. Thanks, y'all - great info and cheers!

[@aaronfox2888]

Insightful video. Evan Williams BIB is consistently solid juice, especially for the price.

[@johnmanzo9329]

Best show ever !

[@chasingneat]

Great video you guys! Always loving to learn about Bourbon!

[@brentanderson7968]

Outstanding! Thanks!

[@Seoul_of_bourbon]

Love me some Bernie!

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Bernie is the best!

[@wedomusic9451]

Bourbon is so fun!

[@colinratner5504]

Great episode, enjoyed it. Tis!

[@malmeyer]

Awesome episode. Those bonded rules can be hard to remember when you're 2 sheets to the wind but I took a screenshot of Bernie's card so that should help. Bernie may have the best job in the world. EW Bib is one of 2 bottles I buy in the 1.75, the other being WT 101 of course. Cheers Chad and Sara!

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Of course! Both a great values and are hard to beat.

[@LanguagesWithAndrew]

@@ItsBourbonNight How can we actually get one of those cards?

[@ItsBourbonNight]

@@LanguagesWithAndrew The only way I know how to get one right now is to see Bernie at an event. They may have the cards at the distillery as well, but I don’t know that for sure.

[@LanguagesWithAndrew]

@@ItsBourbonNight Ok thanks so much for the (surprisingly) quick reply. Let him know that people would like to have one, so maybe include them with certain bonded bottles as a promo or make sure people get one when they buy merchandise off Heavan Hills' website or something like that.

[@TheBeacker1]

Absolutely... I keep a 1.75 white label on the shelf.

[@grahamjohnson3154]

Love to spend a weekend at Bernies... awesome vlog..learned a lot and I have that bottle on my shelf yet unopened. But may POP it this weekend after this.

[@chrisdunning5481]

This guy is awesome! Great video.

[@michaeloldfather4157]

Bernie was really interesting. Great episode.

[@arashefi]

Very learning! I’m big fan of BIB because I know at least get some standard stuff at this time. Honestly Evan Williams is not the best example of BIB, but it’s very good value for the price. Thanks

[@OutdoorGearAddiction]

Looks like a great opportunity for your channel and for us followers. He was such a great teacher/ambassador for the brand. BIB is very impressive. EW BIB does taste like wet Hay in my opinion though. Well done you guys. Great and very informative upload. Early Times BIB is by far the best BIB to me.

[@blindsquirrel3123]

Stay Bonded. Cheers folks. Having a Heaven Hill BIB.

[@ItsBourbonNight]

And to you, sir.

[@BigRichfrank]

I'm a shiner .. that last rule is 🤯🤯🤯

[@jimlayton8642]

great show

[@drgallup]

Great episode. EW BiB and Rittenhouse BiB are among my favorites for making cocktails. I agree 100% that 100 proof is ideal for mixing. I'll take EW BiB over their single barrel, they should raise the proof on the SiB. And if you want to PARTY just pick up a HANDLE of BiB at an unbelievable price.

[@-RONNIE]

I want to thank all of you for a really good video 🥃

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Hey, our pleasure!

[@rjb346]

Great video guys ... very informative and well produced. Also enjoy two other excellent BIB products from (I think) Heaven Hill .... JW Dant and JTS Brown. They are hard to find in NC, but grab them when I see them.

[@ItsBourbonNight]

You are correct! I think those two are mostly available in Kentucky.

[@YoJimBo851610]

I just got me a Leopold Bros Three Chamber Rye Bottled in Bond Holiday Edition 2021

[@jamalcherry5745]

Class in session

[@ValerieprimcessAmanda]

Yup.....browsing the burbon section of my local liquor store I stumbled into a bottled in bond Evan Williams so I thought eh........why not give it a try. I admit...... it's strong but tastes good and I like.

[@mattwise4741]

Great episode. So much good information and history. My personal bourbon journey is similar to Sara's. Happy BiB day!

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Happy BiB Day to you, too!

[@bldrv7522]

Excellent episode. I had to pause the video and pour an Evan Williams BIB to join in.

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Always love it when people drink along with us during an episode!

[@robguttridge6591]

It's what I was already sipping, from a brandy snifter, when I started the video. The man supported what my own taste buds and nose have told me. Maybe that's confirmation bias, but it sure passes the sniff test.

[@ejbsee6081]

I am a fan

[@EdmundStanding]

Really enjoyed this, thanks, and greetings from England! Only Bottled in Bond I've had so far is Mellow Corn but it I want to try more. Believe it or not, in England Mellow Corn is an expensive speciality product.

[@ItsBourbonNight]

I can believe it. Over here Evan Williams 12 year is $130 where as in Japan I hear it's about $30. Go figure.

[@lawrencespies8674]

I want some of those cards. If you have not done it already... you need to do a blind of BIB bourbons/whiskies.

[@alansaggers3950]

For me value bib is Old Bardstown bib, allocated bib is Henry McKenna.

[@brocklanders6969]

Evan Williams BiB is the best value in Bourbon. It is really all I buy anymore and I an get a handle for $27. Mid shelf bourbon and a bottom shelf price.

[@Zokambaa]

I do quite like this, I don't mind it as a sipper but generally don't, it is affordable here and I really like Ginger Ale mixed with a good bourbon, usually higher rye but this has been my go to since regular wild turkey is about $5-$10 more and WT 101 is $45 here (Canadian) If I can get WT 81 at the same price as EW BiB 100, I am going with EW. I should note I can't drink regular wild turkey straight as it is too weak but it does mix well in cocktails, but it is missing the proof to stand up to more than just soda. I think EW BiB 100 has that so might work in cocktails, although I generally prefer higher rye like WT101 or Bulleit for the Manhattans and such. But if I can get a higer proof Bourbon with a bit more complexity for less than $30 I am going back to it. In a perfect world though, Wild Turkey Rare Breed for less than $30 would make me a slobbering alcoholic... I love that stuff so much

[@tomhughes4892]

Top shelf episode guys n gals . Thanks Bernie ,hopefully one day they will send EV BIB to Canada 🇨🇦 Lol . Right now all I have is the black label, 1783 and single barrel,love small . 👍🥃🇨🇦

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Do you all have the newer 90 proof 1783 small batch? Ever since they raised the proof to 90 it has really been a strong contender in the 90 proof category for us. Love it!

[@tomhughes4892]

@@ItsBourbonNight Evening guys and gals ,yes it is the 90 proof small batch. Didn’t know there was anything else,this is all I’ve ever bought,always one on backup. Top 5 for me .Love the channel 👍🥃🇨🇦

[@Brad-ic4bp]

I recognized him immediately from the 2018 documentary “Straight Up Kentucky Bourbon” (Watch it on KZbin, it’s fantastic). Smart guy, although it looks like he’s aged 20 years since that 2018 video😧.

[@ItsBourbonNight]

We’ve watched that doc, good stuff

[@rossfudd256]

There is one more restriction to Bottled in bond. It has to be by one distiller at one distillery. The Distiller wasn't on the card, did they change that requirement?

[@Yankees07ny]

Great episode and I’ll be enjoying a few BiB’s tonight. Cheers and Happy BiB Day! 🥃

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Happy BiB Day to you, too!

[@alandiaz1041]

The bizarre thing for me about this episode is the Sara is sitting on the left! Did you mirror the camera angle? It’s just too weird, I don’t think I can handle it. Chad on the left and Sara on the right! That’s just the way it is!!! Anyway, back to the actual program, thanks for recognizing the anniversary of BIB. These are some of my favorite bourbons.

[@franciscolaureano7703]

Heaven Hill is always a safe bet

[@hangingwithbill]

I know that bar 😄

[@brentworls8509]

I should have bought some today! Dang, it was right there!

[@877-MASH-NOW]

WHISKEY CHEERS 😎😎😎😎

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Happy BiB Day!

[@tothefinlandstation]

Is Laird's BiB Straight Apple Brandy the only non-whiskey BiB?

[@jeffbouldin]

Very interesting show, but there was a little bit of misinformation in there. The biggest thing I see most people get wrong when talking about bottled in bond is they focus on the bottled in bond Act of 1897. That law does not exist anymore. It was done away with when the Volstead Act was put in place to enforce prohibition. Currently bottled in bond is defined in US title 27 under prohibited labeling practices. Specifically it is stating that you are prohibited from using that term unless you meet several criteria. Now most of that criteria is what was defined in the original Act. However there is one criteria that is not in there that was in the original Act, the requirement to be stored in federally bonded warehouses. That is no longer required in order to use the term bottled in bond. Because there are no more federally bonded warehouses as they existed before prohibition. Today most of the consumer protection aspects of the bottled in bond Act of 1897 are written into the standards of identity of the name bourbon itself. The other things said that was not correct under current law is that it had to be stored in an oak container. Under current law bottled and bond can be used for almost any class of spirit, so you do not have to store some of those classes of spirit such as vodka in an oak container in order to use the term bottled in bond. But it was a very well done and informative episode.

[@johnmcdonough666]

Hadn't Parker Beam passed away at this point or is there another Parker beam?

[@neoroman0510]

My favourite cocktail is the Manhattan and my favourite Whiskeys to use for it are the Rittenhouse and the Evan Williams! You can certainly tell the difference between them, but they are both superb in each their own way in a Manhattan!

[@johnmcdonough666]

I put the white label in a decanter and tell my friends it's something expensive.

[@ClassicCarTraveler]

Love me some BIB Evan Williams and some BIB Rittenhouse Rye they are the best, enjoyed the video guys, Thanks!!!!

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@justadudeintheworldman.120]

You can’t read!?-Chad

[@ItsBourbonNight]

;)

[@jimbokyzar8170]

Google calendar let me down! Native People's month check. LGTBQ month check. St. Patrick's Day check. But no National BIB day? Alright I'll do it my damn self! There reminder every year now. Problem solved! Love Evan Williams BIB!

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Next year is the 126th anniversary, still plenty of reason to celebrate!

[@jimbokyzar8170]

@@ItsBourbonNight From now on I'll be celebrating every year! I love BIB I just never knew we had a special day! I have OGD BIB Evan W BIB Early Times BIB I'm good to go.

[@MrMoney331]

Please don't close the schools. Don't want to be chugging bourbon with my kiddo around. Lol. Happy BIB day

[@Sim-sq2hu]

Evan williams has throughly ruined ecery other sub $30 whiskey for me