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bottled in bond

(US) Of a distilled beverage: aged and bottled according to a set of legal regulations contained in the U.S.

ˈbɑtəld ɪn ˈbɑndDocumented since 1890shistorical55 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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Born ~1897 · no dated citations yet
1897BornToday, 2026

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#1·Apr 27, 2026

(US) Of a distilled beverage: aged and bottled according to a set of legal regulations contained in the U.S. government's Standards of Identity for Distilled Spirits, as originally specified in the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. Such beverages must be the product of one distillation season (January–June or July–December) by one distiller at one distillery, and must have been aged in a federally bonded warehouse under U.S. government supervision for at least four years and bottled at 100 (U.S.) proof (50% alcohol by volume).

For parents

"bottled in bond" means: Of a distilled beverage: aged and bottled according to a set of legal regulations contained in the U.S. government's Standards of Identity f.... This is technical or formal vocabulary, more likely to appear in school work, news or a particular profession than in peer chat. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your child uses the term, it is usually a sign of curiosity about a subject area. A short follow-up question about where they came across it is usually all that is needed.

For ESL learners

"bottled in bond" means: Of a distilled beverage: aged and bottled according to a set of legal regulations contained in the U.S. government's Standards of Identity f.... Register: formal or technical English, standard in its specialist domain (law, medicine, science, finance, etc.). Gloss the term with a plain synonym when writing for a general audience. Note the regional or dialect label (US) — usage may sound odd outside that variety. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a

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For specific readers

"bottled in bond" means: Of a distilled beverage: aged and bottled according to a set of legal regulations contained in the U.S. government's Standards of Identity f.... This is technical or formal vocabulary, more likely to appear in school work, news or a particular profession than in peer chat. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your child uses the term, it is usually a sign of curiosity about a subject area. A short follow-up question about where they came across it is usually all that is needed.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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