The Differences Between Straight Bourbon and Bonded Bourbon [Infographic]

If you fancy yourself a bourbon drinker, you’ve no doubt come across a few bottles bearing the bottled-in-bond label. And if you fancy yourself an aficionado you may even be aware of what that term means. But for most drinkers scouring the shelves, the bonded label can raise confusion when shopping for the next bottle to add to bar carts.

Like much of bourbon’s rules the bottled-in-bond term, often referred to as “BiB” by collectors or simply “bonded,” refers to a list of legal requirements that the spirit’s production must adhere to. In this case, the law is the Bottled-in-Bond Act, which Congress signed into law in 1897. The law lists a set of conditions that bourbon (and other American whiskeys) must follow in order to use the term on the bottle label. It was originally passed to preserve the integrity of aged American spirits.

A few factors determine whether a bourbon qualifies for bottled-in-bond status, but it’s important to remember that whether straight or bonded, both of these styles must adhere to general guidelines in place for bourbon.

As a quick primer, that means the spirit must be 100 percent American-made; the mash bill must include a minimum of 51 percent corn; the spirit should be aged for a minimum of two years in charred, new oak barrels; and produced without the addition of artificial flavors or colors.

Now that we’ve established what they have in common, check out the handy visual guide below to discover the differences between regular ol’ straight bourbon and those labeled “bottled-in-bond.”

Composition

Straight bourbon: Can be a mix of several straight bourbons, provided each of their mash bills meets the required 51-percent minimum corn content.

Bonded bourbon: Must be made in only one distillation season (either from January-June or July-December) by one distiller and at a single production facility.

Aging

Straight bourbon: Must be aged for a minimum of two years within new, unused charred oak containers.

Bonded bourbon: Must be aged for a minimum to 4 years. The entirety of that duration must take place in a federally bonded warehouse.

Alcohol Content

Straight bourbon: Must be bottled at a minimum of 40 percent ABV (80 proof).

Bonded bourbon: Must be bottled at a minimum 50 percent ABV (100 proof).

Label

Straight bourbon: Must list the state(s) the bourbon was distilled and bottled in.

Bonded bourbon: Must identify the distillery it was made in by DSP number and where it was bottled if that location differs.