Bottled-In-Bond Whiskey: What Is It And Why Should I Drink It?
Bottled-In-Bond Whiskey: What Is It And Why Should I Drink It?
Bottled-in-Bond whiskey has long lived on the bottom shelf, but recently you've noticed the term pop up occasionally on nicer pricier bottles. What's the deal?
Bottled-In-Bond is a quality designation for American made spirits, and it's making a comeback.
Here at Silverback Distillery, we're proud to be a part of that resurgence, with our very first Bottled-In-Bond bourbon, Blackback Alpha Series Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon (and just our second ever Bottled-in-Bond whiskey)!
What is Bottled-In-Bond?
In the 19th century, American whiskey production was a free-for-all. People bought their liquor from the barrel rather than individual bottles.
This meant some producers and sellers cut and blended their spirits with all sorts of fillers to get more out of a barrel. Often, booze sellers up north took neutral spirits like vodka or grain alcohol, dyed it, and added flavoring to sell as whiskey. These additives, like wood chips and formaldehyde, were harmful to consumers. They also served to undercut the prices of Kentucky Bourbon producers, whose whiskey was much more expensive to produce.
Given these counterfeit liquor production methods, and after urging from real bourbon producers, the government felt it necessary to monitor the aging process. The US federal government passed The Bottled-In-Bond Act in 1897. The designation ensures the quality of the whiskey standards.
For a spirit to receive the Bottled-In-Bond label, it must be:
Bottled at 100 Proof (50 ABV)
The liquor needs to consist of only one season's production and must be produced by a single distillery.
After distillation, the whiskey must be barrel-aged in a federal warehouse for a minimum of four years.
These bonded warehouses are where the whiskey ages with official government supervision.
Why Drink Bottled-In-Bond Whiskey?
Because it tastes great!
A higher proof means more concentrated flavor! And that means the spirit will stand out in any cocktail. If you're mixing a Manhattan or an Old Fashioned, you want the whiskey to hold its own.
The standards of this designation ensure a consistent, quality product. Since Bottled-In-Bond spirits come from the same season and a single distillery, the whiskey in the barrel can't blend with any inferior products, and won’t have any additives or color added, just like “straight” whiskey.
Given its lack of popularity over the last 60 years, Bottled-In-Bond spirits have been high quality and cost-effective. However, this spirit has been making a comeback in popularity! As a craft distillery, Silverback is excited to be able to release our own!
Introducing Blackback Alpha Series Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon
How did we get here? It's a long, delicious story.
It all started with our Barrel Club. The exclusive club allows any of our passionate fans to buy a whole 53-gallon barrel of Silverback Whiskey. From there, they get to decide how long they'd like it aged, and at what proof they'd like it to be.
We found that our customers wanted high proof whiskey. We also discovered that 53 gallons is a whole lot of whiskey. Many times, club members didn’t want that much whiskey, opting to buy a limited number of bottles. We were left with delicious leftover whiskey and wanted to find a way to showcase these unique and delicious barrels.
Marketing Director, Abby, presented the idea for a line of exclusive, high proof, experimental whiskey releases, known as the Alpha Series! Every batch would be one-of-a-kind and packaged in small bottles perfect for gifting.
Our "Hooch Mama" Christine Riggleman, one of the leading Master Distillers and one of the few female master distillers in the world, loved the idea and is always up for a challenge. Hooch Mama, along with Master Distiller "Baby Hooch" Lauren, has worked together to bring you our unique Alpha Series flavor profiles!
The first release of the Alpha Series in December of 2019 offered a limited release of 112 proof Bourbon whiskey in 375 mL bottles. This December release proved to be a popular gift item.
From there, we released a 110 proof Rye whiskey, followed by a Bottled-In-Bond sour mash corn whiskey. Now, we're ready to release our first-ever Alpha Series Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon, just in time for the upcoming holiday season.
Flavor Profile
After your history lesson on Bottled-In-Bond whiskey and how Silverback Distillery came to make it, you want to know how ours tastes. As you pour it into your glass, you'll see a beautiful amber-colored whiskey with brilliant clarity.
Showcasing notes of brown sugar, oak, and vanilla, this bottled-in-bond bourbon hews to the flavor profile Christine has developed, while also charting new territory.
The intense oak and dried fruit on the nose is followed by cinnamon-sugar and even cocoa on the palate, and on the finish - a warm hug of oak and dark chocolate combine for a medium-long finish. A drop of water in a glass of this whiskey reveals a creamy, butterscotch and vanilla sweetness.
Remember, the Alpha Series is Limited
Silverback is proud of our latest Bottled-In-Bond whiskey. We hope you'll love drinking it as much as we loved making it. Its release date is December 19, 2020, and you'll want to act fast. We predict this Bourbon will sell fast.
To make sure you have the great whiskey you need for the holiday season, contact us today to reserve a bottle.