The Bottled in Bond Act of 1897 aimed to establish standardized definitions of alcohol in America, based on rules about quality and predefined criteria. It was so successful at revolutionizing the alcohol industry the practice of bottled-in-bond spirits still exists today, and is particularly associated with whiskey and bourbon.

To bear the label of bottled-in-bond as defined in 1897, a batch of spirits must come from a single distillery, the same distiller, and have been produced within a single distillation season. It also must reside in a facility that's federally bonded, mature there for at least four years, and be bottled at 100-proof, or 50% alcohol by volume.

Whiskey distillers have never had an obligation to adhere to standards set by the Bottled in Bond Act, but many do, as it is a badge of honor among high-quality whiskey and bourbon makers. The act’s requirements remain the same today as they did then in 1897, and bottled-in-bond spirits continue to see a resurgence.