What legal factor dictates the classification of a spirit as 'Bottled-in-Bond'?

The legal factors dictating the classification of a spirit as 'Bottled-in-Bond' are defined by specific regulations designed to guarantee the authenticity and quality of the spirit. In the United States, the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 established these standards. To be labeled as Bottled-in-Bond, the spirit must adhere to the following criteria: it must be the product of a single distilling season (either January to June or July to December) from a single distillery; it must be aged in a federally bonded warehouse under U.S. government supervision for at least four years; it must be bottled at 100 proof (50% alcohol by volume); and it must clearly identify the distillery where it was distilled and, if different, where it was bottled. The 'bonded warehouse' ensures that the spirit is stored under government oversight, minimizing the risk of adulteration or substitution. These regulations were initially implemented to protect consumers from fraudulent or substandard spirits and to provide assurance of the spirit's origin and quality. Meeting all these requirements allows the distiller to use the 'Bottled-in-Bond' designation on the label, signaling to consumers that the spirit meets these stringent standards. Spirits not meeting these specific requirements cannot legally be labeled as 'Bottled-in-Bond.'