Details on new bottled-in-bond bourbon, a first for this Kentucky distiller
Bulleit Bourbon is jumping on the bottled-in-bond bandwagon.
The Kentucky distillery, which is owned by global spirits giant Diageo, has launched its first bottled-in-bond bourbon distilled and aged entirely at the Bulleit Distilling Co. in Shelbyville.
This release was distilled in spring 2017, according to the company, the same year the distillery opened, and has been aged seven years.
“Introducing our first Bottled-in-Bond bourbon, made entirely at the Bulleit Distilling Company is a proud achievement for our team,” said Delicia James, lead whiskey blender at Diageo in a news release. “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.”
The new bottle will be a limited-time release, not continuously available. It will come out only as the blending team determines the whiskey’s readiness.
This first release is available at major retailers across the U.S. beginning in February 2025 with a suggested retail price of $54.99 for a 750mL bottle.
This follows the expansion of the Bulleit lineup to include a barrel-strength version in 2022 and a single malt American whiskey in 2024, as well as a permanent 10-year-old rye and an occasional 12-year-old rye.
What does bottled-in-bond mean?
Bottled-in-bond bourbons generally stand out from other releases for several reasons.
All bottled-in-bond whiskeys must meet strict federal standards designed to ensure quality: They must be from one distiller and distilling season, aged at least four years in federally bonded warehouses and bottled at 100 proof.
Many Kentucky distillers offer a bottled-in-bond product; they are coveted by whiskey fans who value transparency and higher proof.
“Bulleit Bottled-in-Bond is for those who seek bold flavors and expert craftsmanship,” James said in a statement. “Whether they’re loyal Bulleit fans or exploring something new, this release delivers the depth, spice, and character that make Bulleit unique.
According to the tasting notes, it has a nose of spice and fruit, with toasted oak, maple and nutmeg on the palate and a finish of butterscotch.
This expression earned a 91-point rating at the 2024 International Wine & Spirits Competition.
She said that the planning for the release was part of Bulleit’s long-term vision, which governs their strategy regardless of the current economic climate that includes potential tariffs, declining bourbon sales and inflation.
“When we distilled this whiskey in 2017, we knew we wanted to craft something that would both honor tradition and showcase the quality coming from the Bulleit Distilling Company,” she said in a statement. “As it matured, our blending team continuously assessed its development, and at seven years, we felt it had reached the perfect balance of spice, depth, and complexity.”
This story was originally published February 19, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
