TO EARN THE BOTTLED-IN-BOND DESIGNATION IS NOT EASY TASK. ITS RULES STRETCH BACK TO 1897 WHEN CONGRESS FIRST LAID OUT THE REGULATIONS. ONE MASTER DISTILLER—AT ONE DISTILLERY AND WITHIN ONE SEASON—MUST PRESIDE OVER ITS CREATION. MATURATION MUST TAKE PLACE IN NEW CHARRED OAK BARRELS FOR AT LEAST FOUR YEARS. BOTTLING MUST SEE THE BOURBON AT EXACTLY 100 PROOF. ONLY WHISKEY PRODUCED IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THAT ADHERES TO THESE STRICT GUIDELINES, CAN CLAIM THE HONOR OF BOTTLED-IN-BOND.