c. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY. ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO. TAX AND
TRADE. BUREAU. WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW. ABOUT. DISTILLED SPIRITS.
DISTILLED SPIRITS LABELING DISTILLED DISTILLED SPIRITS SPIRITS LABELING LABELING REGULATIONS REGULATIONS REGULATIONS ininthe Code ofof Federal Regulations (CFR) in the Code the Code of Federal Federal Regulations Regulations (CFR) (CFR)
Read more about following consumer Read Read more more about about thethethe following following consumer consumer protection regulations online at www.ttb.gov: protection protection regulations regulations online online at www.ttb.gov: at www.ttb.gov:
Brand Name CFR 5.34 Brand Brand Name Name 2727 CFR 27 CFR 5.34 5.34 Name and Address 27 CFR 5.36 Name Name and and Address Address 27 CFR 27 CFR 5.365.36 Alcohol Content 27 CFR 5.37 Alcohol Alcohol Content Content 27 CFR 27 CFR 5.375.37 Caloric and Carbohydrate Caloric Caloric and and Carbohydrate Carbohydrate Representations Representations Representations 27 CFR 5.42 and TTB Ruling 2004-1 27 CFR 27 CFR 5.425.42 and and TTBTTB Ruling Ruling 2004-1 2004-1 Health Warning Statement Health Health Warning Statement Statement 27 Warning CFR Part 16 27 CFR 27 CFR PartPart 16 16 Country of Origin 27 CFR 5.36(e) Country Country of Origin of Origin 27 CFR 27 CFR 5.36(e) 5.36(e) Class and Type 27 CFR 5.35 Class Class and and TypeType 27 CFR 27 CFR 5.355.35 Presence of Neutral Spirits and Presence Presence ofFlavoring Neutral of Neutral Spirits and and Coloring, andSpirits Blending Coloring, Coloring, Flavoring Flavoring and and Blending Blending Materials 27 CFR 5.39 Materials Materials 27 CFR 27 CFR 5.395.39 Net Contents 27 CFR 5.38/5.47a Net Net Contents Contents 27 CFR 27 CFR 5.38/5.47a 5.38/5.47a Prohibited Practices 27 CFR 5.42 Prohibited Prohibited Practices Practices 27 CFR 27 CFR 5.425.42 Statements of Age and Percentage Statements Statements of27 Age of Age and and Percentage Percentage CFR 5.40 27 CFR 27 CFR 5.405.40 Voluntary Disclosure of Major Food Allergens 27 CFR 5.32a Voluntary Voluntary Disclosure Disclosure of Major of Major Food Food Allergens Allergens 27 CFR 27 CFR 5.32a 5.32a
How TTB How How TTB TTB Protects the Public Protects Protects thethe Public Public American adults whowho enjoyenjoy an an American American adults adults who enjoy an occasional alcohol beverage of their occasional occasional alcohol alcohol beverage beverage of their of their choice do so without fear that the choice choice do so do without so without fear fear that that the the product they are consuming might not be product product they are theyconsuming are consuming mightmight not be not be labeled properly. Why don’t they need to labeled labeled properly. properly. Why Why don’t don’t they need they need to to worry? Because a small Government worry? worry? Because Because a small a small Government Government agency takes pride in assuring that the agency agency takestakes pride pride in assuring in assuring that the that the alcohol beverages sold in the United alcohol alcohol beverages beverages sold sold in the in United the United States are properly described on the States States are properly are properly described described on the on the container. container. container. TTB takes tremendous pride in its TTB TTB takesmission takes tremendous tremendous pride in itsin its strategic to “Protect thepride Public,” strategic strategic mission mission to “Protect to “Protect the Public,” the Public,” which is designed to assure the integrity which which is designed is designed to assure to assure the integrity the integrity of alcohol beverages in the marketplace, ofverify alcohol of alcohol beverages in the inmarketplace, the marketplace, andbeverages substantiate industry member verify verify and substantiate and substantiate industry industry member member compliance with laws and regulations, compliance compliance with with laws laws and and regulations, regulations, and to provide information to the public and and to provide information information to the topublic the public as to a provide means of preventing consumer asdeception. aasmeans a means of preventing of preventing consumer consumer deception. deception. TTB reviews more than 100,000 alcohol TTB TTB reviews reviews more than than 100,000 100,000 alcohol alcohol labels, as well asmore advertisements, each labels, well as that as welladvertisements, as advertisements, each each yearlabels, toasverify they provide adequate year year to verify to verify that that provide they provide adequate adequate information to thethey consumer concerning the information identitytoand of each alcohol information thetoquality consumer the consumer concerning concerning beverage and make certain they the identity the identity and toquality and quality of each of that each alcohol alcohol do not mislead consumers. beverage beverage and to and make to make certain certain that they that they do not domislead not mislead consumers. consumers. TTB investigators conduct product integrity field investigations to check that TTB TTB investigators investigators conduct conduct product product industry members are following all that integrity integrity field investigations field investigations to check to check that Federal labeling and production industry industry members members are are following following all all standards for alcohol beverages. These Federal Federal labeling labeling and and production production investigations often include a standards standards for alcohol for alcohol beverages. beverages. These These comprehensive chemical analysis investigations investigationsoften ofteninclude include a a conducted at one of ourchemical two state-of-thecomprehensive comprehensive chemical analysis analysis art laboratories. conducted conducted at one atof one ouroftwo ourstate-of-thetwo state-of-the-
art laboratories. art laboratories. This informational pamphlet is designed to educate the American public about This This informational informational pamphlet pamphlet is designed is designed how to read an alcohol beverage label. to educate to educate the American the American publicpublic aboutabout If you want to learn more, visit our web how how to read to read an alcohol an alcohol beverage beverage label.label. Web site at www.ttb.gov. If youIf want you want to learn to learn more,more, visit our visitweb our web TTB PP5190 2 (04/2008) TTB 5190.2 (04/2008) Web Web site atsite www.ttb.gov. at www.ttb.gov. TTB PTTB 5190 P2 5190 (04/2008) 2 (04/2008)
DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT OF THE THE OF THE TREASURY TREASURY
ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO ALCOHOL ALCOHOL AND AND TOBACCO TOBACCO TAX AND TRADE TAXTAX AND AND TRADE TRADE BUREAU BUREAU BUREAU WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW WHAT WHAT YOU YOU SHOULD SHOULD KNOW KNOW ABOUT ABOUT ABOUT
DISTILLED SPIRITS DISTILLED DISTILLED SPIRITS SPIRITS LABELS LABELS LABELS
A proud past....A focused future
WHAT A DISTILLED SPIRITS LABEL TELLS YOU
If you have ever taken a look behind a bar, you have seen rows upon rows of different bottles in a variety of heights, sizes, colors, and flavors. Usually the majority of these bottles are distilled spirits. Distilled spirits are generally produced by first combining various ingredients and fermenting them. The resulting fermented “mash,” which has a low alcohol content, is then heated in a still until the alcohol turns into a vapor, which is captured and then turned back into liquid alcohol. This process is called “distillation,” and is generally what distinguishes these products from wine and malt beverages. TTB regulations require that many types of distilled spirits, such as vodka, gin, rum, and tequila, must be bottled at no less than 40% alcohol by volume (80° proof). Other products, such as cordials, liqueurs, and specialties, may be bottled at a lower alcohol content. A careful review of the label will help you to understand the product in the bottle, and TTB designed this guide to help consumers make an informed choice when purchasing a distilled spirits product. TTB regulations can be quite detailed in regard to the production of distilled spirits and the information appearing on the bottle; not every possibility is presented here, but this guide will give you a good grasp of the fundamentals. For more detailed information please see the regulations listed on the back of this pamphlet. CLASS/TYPE DESIGNATION
BRAND NAME
The brand label of a distilled spirit must contain a designation that accurately identifies the product in the bottle. The regulations are quite specific as to the ingredients and processes used to produce a product of a given class or type. For instance:
The brand name is used to identify and market a distilled spirits product. A brand name may not mislead the consumer about the age, identity, origin, or other characteristics of the distilled spirit.
Gin must derive its main characteristic flavor from juniper berries. In addition, gin labels must also show the commodity from which the product was distilled (e.g., “Distilled from grain”).
NAME AND ADDRESS The name and address of the bottler or importer must appear on the container. However, the address of the bottler's principal place of business may be used instead of the actual location where the bottling took place. It is also permissible for a bottler/importer to use a duly authorized trade name in place of its usual operating name.
Vodka is defined as neutral spirits (alcohol produced from any material at or above 190° proof) so distilled, or so treated after distillation, as to be without distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color. Like gin, vodka labels must also show the commodity from which the product was distilled.
ALCOHOL CONTENT A statement of alcohol content expressed in percent by volume must appear on the brand label. An additional alcohol content statement expressed in degrees of proof may be shown in addition to the required alcohol by volume statement.
GIN DISTILLED FROM GRAIN BOTTLED BY XYZ DISTILLING CO., CITY, STATE 40% ALC./VOL. (80 PROOF)
HEALTH WARNING STATEMENT By law, this statement is required on all alcohol beverages containing 0.5% or more alcohol by volume. COUNTRY OF ORIGIN Pursuant to regulations issued by TTB, as well as requirements of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a Country of Origin statement is required on containers of imported distilled spirits. Acceptable statements include “Product of (insert name of country)” or “Produced in (insert name of country).”
Rum must be made from the fermented juice of sugar cane, sugar cane syrup, sugar cane molasses, or other sugar cane by-products.
750 ML
GOVERNMENT WARNING: (1) ACCORDING TO THE SURGEON GENERAL, WOMEN SHOULD NOT DRINK ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES DURING PREGNANCY BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF BIRTH DEFECTS. (2) CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IMPAIRS YOUR ABILITY TO DRIVE A CAR OR OPERATE MACHINERY, AND MAY CAUSE HEALTH PROBLEMS. NET CONTENTS The net contents of a distilled spirit container must be stated in metric units of measure. Distilled spirits must be bottled in sizes of 1.75 L, 1 L, 750 ml, 375 ml, 200 ml, 100 ml, or 50 ml. A can must be filled to 355 ml, 200 ml, 100 ml, or 50 ml.
Tequila must be derived principally from the Agave Tequilana Weber plant (“blue” variety). Tequila is a distinctive product of Mexico, manufactured in Mexico in compliance with the laws of Mexico. Cordials and Liqueurs are produced from spirits in combination with fruits, flowers, plants, juices, or natural flavors and with the addition of at least 2.5% by weight of certain sugars. A distilled spirits product may not fit into any of the classes or types of spirits found in the regulations, usually because of the addition of flavoring materials or because it was made with a non-standard blending or treating material. When this is the case, the product must be labeled with a truthful and adequate statement of composition such as “Rum with natural flavors.” These products will also bear a mandatory fanciful name, such as “Spiced Rum.”
