Delving into the grey area between OBs and IBs

Ngl, ralfy’s video post inspired me to start question the definition between Official Bottlings (OBs) and Independent Bottlings (IBs).

But first, let’s take a few steps back to look at the conventional and older definition of Independent Bottlers. Independent Bottlers are a kind of third-party, a group other than distillery and consumer, and they buy from the distillery and sell to the consumer. Most independent bottlers fit that definition. I use this simpler definition to explain to newcomers to whisky as that held true until recently.

Not so third-party Independent Bottlers

With whisky rising to prominence, Independent Bottlers became more important. While many distilleries focusing on their unique house-style in their OBs, seasoned whisky drinkers now look for an alternative voice – IBs. The more established Independent Bottling companies like Signatory Vintage, Gordon & Macphail, Cadenhead and countless others grabbed this opportunity hard. Some of these IB companies bought over distilleries, like how Signatory owns Edradour, or G&M revived Benromach. The previous model shown now does not apply. Moreover, the owners of Springbank owns Cadenhead as well.

The Grey Area

Cadenhead Springbank, SV Edradour, Distillery Reserve Strathisla,

The definitions

Ownership

A bottling done by an independent company who owns or is owned by the distillery is an Official Bottling.

This definition comes from Ralfy. Furthermore, Ralfy comments that IB leads to OB sales

House Styles and Logos

OBs stick to a certain house style (overseen by their master bender or distiller) and they only have the distillery brand without the addition of a logo from the independent bottler.

House style? Official distillery bottlings with Single Casks, Glen Scotia, springbank, glenmorangie signet

Logo? Debatable. Mortlach flora and funa is just as much OB as. Their stuff now

Spirit of Independence

3) Independent Bottlings are bottled by Independent Bottlers who are not dependent on the distillery Billy Abbot’s article https://blog.thewhiskyexchange.com/2016/09/20-independent-bottlers-whisky/

Pernod Ricard Single Malt Bottlings

Ballantine’s 15yo is the other way around. To gain traction on workhorse distilleries.

Different definitions
Dependent independent
Non-binary approach: OB need house style branding

House style? Official distillery bottlings with Single Casks, Glen Scotia, springbank, glenmorangie signet

Logo? Debatable. Mortlach flora and funa is just as much OB as. Their stuff now

Thompson brothers
But Irish whiskey??