scroll
You may be familiar with this distinction, seeing it on spirits labels in the liquor stores or on cocktail menus around your town or city. But what does it mean? And what does it say about the product inside?
In the late 1800's, the question of where one's booze originated either wasn't important or folks just didn't give much thought to it. Or if their whiskey was even whiskey at all. Generally, alcohol was bought by wholesalers in barrels rather than bottles making it all too easy to tweak or mask the product with additives and artificial flavorings to stretch the product for more profit, frequently using questionable ingredients to do so.
A traditional whiskey distiller from Kentucky, for example, could be easily undercut by another distillery using a neutral spirit like vodka which is much less expensive and requires much less skill to make and add to their vodka such ingredients as caramel coloring, wood chips and even formaldehyde to alter it enough to pawn it off as something that vaguely resembled a traditionally made whiskey.
After experiencing this con for some time, whiskey distillers and consumers alike got fed up. With the help of the federal government, they set up a standardized designation known as the Bottled In Bond Act. This was one of first examples of a consumer protection law in the US.
The Bottled in Bond or "BIB" designation is one that holds a spirit to a fairly high standard. The Bottled in Bond or Bonded spirits standards are as follows:
Because of these standards, what you get is essentially a "craft" spirit. A unique expression of that distillery's terroir/climate/water etc.
As a bartender and cocktail creator, using a BIB spirit will ensure you of a couple of things. Because of the four-year aging minimum and a 50% ABV, you know your spirit is going to have a strong flavor profile and alcohol content to give it the backbone to stand up to all other ingredients. Especially for more savory or less sweet style cocktails.
The takeaway for me in understanding more about BIB spirits is that a BIB designation of a spirit does not necessarily guarantee a higher quality. That is still a very subjective realm. But it does speak to the authenticity of the product. It's the truest expression of that distiller's "art" in their craft. And that speaks volumes to me.
Come sit down at the bar at The Establishment and let's explore some of these BIB whiskeys. We have several on the menu, and now that they have grabbed our attention, you can rest assured you will see many more offerings a little sooner than later.
Cheers to all!
Ryan Wise
Bar Manager
The Establishment
Some of The Establishment's Bottled in Bond whiskeys.
while we're mostly local sustainable seafood and produce, we have exceptional items for land lovers on the menu đź–¤ beautiful quality cuts from @meatsbylinz #chsfoodie #chseats #charlestonrestaurants #charlestonfood #steak
fall menu items are starting to pop up on our menu 🍂 like our version of an Apple Tarte Tatin. Crumbly, buttery, and sweet, served with Lapsang Souchong tea ice cream for a creamy, smoky balance. An absolute must try this week. #falldessert #chsfoodie #charlestonrestaurants #chs #chseats #appleseason #lapsangsouchong
We tried swapping out our grouper dish, but you wouldn't let us. So here's the *new* butter poached grouper • truffle celeriac velouté, arugula fennel salad #localfish #sustainableseafood #chseats #charlestonrestaurants #charlestonfood #charlestonfoodie
Fra Diavolo • house-made tagliatelle, local shrimp, sun dried tomato, aji dulce, lemon basil 🌿 stunningly fresh #charlestonseafood #localseafood #sustainableseafood #goodcatch #chsfoodie #chsrestaurants #charlestonfood
Stop in for a cocktail (or two) during the Art Walk on Friday, October 4, and enjoy live music from the Stephen Jenkins Trio! Plus, we'll be at @revealedgallery passing out bites prepared by Chef Elliott Howells. The Establishment is located in the center of Charleston's art gallery district at 28 Broad. We can't wait to see you, cheers 🥂 @stephenejenkinsmusic #charlestonartwalk #artwalk #chs #charlestonsc
It's the last weekend for the the Hat Trick Cocktail Tour benefitting @southernsmokefoundation - a non-profit that supports F&B industry with emergency relief funding and access to mental health services. Come by The Establishment and rate our participating cocktail! Crafted by our Bar Manager Ryan, we have an extra special cocktail named after a local resident (and also using her honey) “Autumn’s Apiary” • a strawberry infused, coconut washed Negroni with a local honey foam - bitters and fresh thyme garnish. @highwirechs @shopbottles #chsdrinks #charlestonfoodie #charlestonbars #cocktails
a tempting tuna tart to taste • bluefin tuna, Fresno pepper, ponzu, savory tart, Golden Osetra caviar. The perfect bite to start your meal 🖤 #chseats #charlestoneats #caviar #sustainableseafood @caviar.star
Join us for a delectable evening as we savor the beauty of the Pinot Noir grape 🍇 Guests will experience a tasting of 6 hand-selected Pinot Noirs, paired with a custom menu from Executive Chef Elliott Howells to highlight the tasting notes of each wine while celebrating fresh, local ingredients. Taste something you love during the dinner? We're excited to partner with local company @wineandcompany for your wine orders. Tickets can be purchased through Open Table or call to reserve your seat 843-789-4028. We can't wait to see you 🖤 #chsevents #charlestonevents #chseats #charlestonfoodie @breakthrubeveragegroup
A huge thank you to @robertfmoss and @postandcourier for featuring The Establishment in this week’s food review. Executive Chef Elliott Howells and our team are wildly proud of the cuisine and experience we provide customers, and we’re thankful to Robert Moss for sharing. Cheers!