The Tennessee-based Bib & Tucker small-batch Bourbon brand, produced by Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, has announced the launch of a new Bottled-in-Bond release.

Bib & Tucker 8 Year Old Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon (50% ABV) is a small-batch, high-rye Bourbon whiskey matured in new American oak casks. It has been aged for eight years – twice the four-year minimum required to qualify for the Bottled-in-Bond designation.

The Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 established one of the most exacting standards in American whiskey production. To carry the designation, a whiskey must be distilled during a single distillation season by one distiller at a single distillery, aged for at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse, and bottled at exactly 100 proof (50% ABV).

Distillers were the driving force behind the 1897 Act because products sold as whiskey in the late 1800s were often diluted or adulterated. They sought a federal standard that would guarantee the integrity of what was in the bottle. Bib & Tucker draws inspiration from that same era, taking its name from a common turn-of-the-century expression for one’s finest attire and paying tribute to a period of adventure, progress and uncompromising craftsmanship, when all Bourbon was made in small batches.

A Tennessee high-rye mash bill sets the Bourbon apart in a bonded category shaped by more traditional recipes, giving it added spice and structure. Made from corn sourced primarily within 100 miles of the distillery, the whiskey is charcoal mellowed using the Lincoln County Process, aged for at least eight years in new American oak barrels and bottled with minimal non-chill filtration.

James Joseph, Apprentice Blender at Bib & Tucker, developed the 8 Year Old Bottled-in-Bond expression under the guidance of Master Blender Alan Kennedy, marking his first release for the brand and reflecting how whiskey-making knowledge is passed from one generation to the next. Joseph selected and blended whiskey from mature barrels distilled during the spring 2018 season, choosing casks that had developed balance and character over eight years, while allowing the Bottled-in-Bond standard to guide every decision throughout the process.

Bib & Tucker 8 Year Old Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon is said to deliver aromas of vanilla custard layered over seasoned oak, creating a warm, creamy sweetness balanced by mature wood spice. On the palate, an initial wave of crème brûlée, leather and hickory is followed by subtle notes of dried apricot and honeysuckle.

Commenting on the launch, James Joseph, Apprentice Blender at Bib & Tucker, said: “Something I’ve learned from my mentors in this industry is that, when it comes to blending whiskey, your job is to recognise when the whiskey is ready. With our first Bottled-in-Bond release, I had the opportunity to work within a standard that’s been respected for generations, so every choice came back to the quality in the barrel and letting the flavours express themselves. It’s a process I was taught early on: respect the tradition, trust the maturation process, and don’t take shortcuts.”

James, added: “For me, it wasn’t about making a whiskey that chased a trend; it was about selecting and blending barrels that could meet a standard that generations of distillers believed was worth protecting. When you start with well-made whiskey and stay disciplined throughout the process, you don’t have to manufacture a story. The whiskey tells it for you.”

Bib & Tucker 8 Year Old Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon will be available from September through selected retailers across the US, for a RRP of $64.99.