The Bulleit brand has been around since 1987, first partnering with other distilleries to source whiskey before finally completing its own distillery in 2017. Since then we have seen milestones including its first American Single Malt, a pledge to plant one million trees, opening a state-of-the-art visitor center with gardens for cocktails, a first-of-its-kind for the county commercial solar array, 10 and 12 year old whiskey releases, and more. Now Bulleit has hit a major milestone — releasing its first ever Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon.

The Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 was one of the first consumer protection laws in the United States. It came about because some of the rectifiers, or nondistiller producers, of the time were unscrupulous and would take something like grain neutral spirits and add stuff to make it seem like aged whiskey. Some of the things they added were gross or even dangerous, so a law was passed that allowed for producers of spirits to label their products Bottled-in-Bond, which indicated it was distilled at a single distillery in a single season, distilled no higher than 160 proof, barreled no higher than 125 proof, aged a minimum of 4 years in a federally bonded warehouse, bottled at 100 proof, and had nothing but pure water added to adjust proof. It was basically a guarantee that you were buying from the folks who made the product and you knew it was safe.

In the modern era, Bottled-in-Bond generally separates nondistiller producers from distillers making their own products, with a few uncommon exceptions. This new product from Bulleit is a 7 year Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon distilled at their own facility in the Spring of 2017. This marks a transition from partially sourced and partially distilled in-house Bourbon to Bourbon that is entirely distilled in-house.

Bulleit Bourbons are distilled from two high rye mash bills and five yeast strains, giving blenders ten distinct flavor profiles to work with.

"Introducing our first Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon, made entirely at the Bulleit Distilling Company, is a proud achievement for our team,” says Delicia James, Lead Whiskey Blender at Diageo, “With our signature high-rye mash bill and seven years of aging under Bottled-in-Bond standards, this bourbon delivers a richness and complexity we’re excited to share. It’s a whiskey that truly showcases the best of what we do here in Shelbyville — bold, balanced, and crafted with care.”

Bulleit’s American Single Malt and Rye whiskeys are still produced elsewhere, but this release is a pretty good indication that Bulleit’s Bourbon will be entirely made in-house going forward.

“The past year has been a defining one for Bulleit, and the release of our first Bottled-in-Bond bourbon adds a meaningful new chapter to our story,” says Jesse Damashek, Senior Vice President of North American Whiskeys at Diageo. “Bulleit Bottled-in-Bond is more than a celebration of craftsmanship, it’s a testament to our commitment to innovation and to showcasing the exceptional quality of whiskey crafted at our distillery in Shelbyville.”

Bulleit Bottled-in-Bond is now available nationwide with a suggested retail price of $54.99 for a 750ml bottle.