DISTILLEDDISTILLEDDISTILLED SPIRITS SPIRITS SPIRITS LABELING LABELING LABELING HowHowHow TTB TTB TTB DEPARTMENTDEPARTMENT OFOF THETHEOF THE TREASURYTREASURY TREASURY REGULATIONSREGULATIONSREGULATIONS ProtectsProtectsProtects the the the Public Public Public in theinin theCode the Code Code of Federalof of Federal Federal Regulations Regulations Regulations (CFR) (CFR) (CFR) ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO American adults who enjoy an ALCOHOLALCOHOL AND AND TOBACCO TOBACCO Read more about the following consumer AmericanAmerican adults adults who whoenjoy enjoy an an ReadRead more more about about the thefollowing following consumer consumer occasional alcohol beverage of their TAX AND TRADE protection regulations online at www.ttb.gov: occasionaloccasional alcohol alcohol beverage beverage of theirof their TAXTAX AND AND TRADE TRADE protectionprotection regulations regulations online online at www.ttb.gov at www.ttb.gov: : choice do so without fear that the BUREAU choicechoice do sodo withoutso without fear fearthat thatthe the product they are consuming might not be BUREAUBUREAU Brand Name 27 CFR 5.34 productproduct they arethey consuming are consuming might might not be not be BrandBrand Name Name 27 CFR 27 CFR 5.34 5.34 labeled properly. Why don’t they need to labeledlabeled properly. properly. Why Whydon’t don’tthey needthey needto to 27 CFR 5.36 worry? Because a small Government Name and Address27 CFR27 CFR 5.36 5.36 worry?worry? Because Because a small a small Government Government NameName and andAddress Address agency takes pride in assuring that the agencyagency takes takes pride pridein assuring in assuring that thethat the WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW Alcohol Content 27 CFR 5.37 alcohol beverages sold in the United WHATWHAT YOU YOU SHOULD SHOULD KNOW KNOW AlcoholAlcohol Content Content 27 CFR 27 CFR 5.37 5.37 alcoholalcohol beverages beverages sold soldin the in Unitedthe United States are properly described on the ABOUT Caloric and Carbohydrate StatesStates are properlyare properly described described on theon the ABOUTABOUT CaloricCaloric and andCarbohydrate Carbohydrate container. Representations container.container. 27 CFRRepresentations 5.42Representations and TTB Ruling 2004-1 DISTILLED SPIRITS 27 CFR27 CFR 5.42 5.42 and andTTB TTB Ruling Ruling 2004-1 2004-1 TTB takes tremendous pride in its DISTILLEDDISTILLED SPIRITS SPIRITS TTBstrategic TTBtakes missiontakes tremendous tremendousto “Protect pride the pride Public,”in itsin its Health Warning Statement strategicstrategic mission mission to “Protect to “Protect the Public,” the Public,” LABELS HealthHealth Warning27 WarningCFR PartStatement Statement16 which is designed to assure the integrity LABELSLABELS 27 CFR27 CFR Part Part16 16 whichof alcoholwhich is designed isbeverages designed to assure in to the assure marketplace,the integrity the integrity Country of Origin 27 CFR 5.36(e) ofverify alcoholof alcoholand beverages substantiate beverages in theindustry in marketplace, the marketplace,member CountryCountry of Origin of Origin 27 CFR 27 CFR 5.36(e) 5.36(e) verifycomplianceverify and substantiateand with substantiate laws industryand industryregulations, member member Class and Type 27 CFR 5.35 compliancecompliance with withlaws lawsand andregulations, regulations, ClassClass and andType Type 27 CFR 27 CFR 5.35 5.35 and to provide information to the public Presence of Neutral Spirits and andas toanda providemeans to provide informationof preventinginformation to theconsumer to publicthe public PresenceColoring,Presence of Flavoring Neutral of Neutral Spirits and Spirits Blending and and asdeception. aas means a means of preventingof preventing consumer consumer Coloring,Coloring,Materials Flavoring Flavoring 27 and CFR andBlending 5.39 Blending deception.deception. MaterialsMaterials 27 CFR 27 CFR 5.39 5.39 TTB reviews more than 100,000 alcohol Net Contents 27 CFR 5.38/5.47a TTBlabels, TTBreviews as reviews well more as more thanadvertisements, than100,000 100,000 alcohol each alcohol Net NetContents Contents 27 CFR 27 CFR 5.38/5.47a 5.38/5.47a labels,yearlabels, toas verify well as thataswell advertisements,they as advertisements,provide adequate each each Prohibited Practices 27 CFR 5.42 yearinformation yearto verify to verify tothat the theythat consumer providethey provide concerningadequate adequate ProhibitedProhibited Practices Practices 27 CFR 27 CFR 5.42 5.42 Statements of Age and Percentage informationthe informationidentity to and the to quality consumerthe consumer of each concerning alcoholconcerning StatementsStatements of27 Age of CFR Age and 5.40 andPercentage Percentage thebeverage identitythe identity andand to qualityand make quality ofcertain each of thateachalcohol they alcohol 27 CFR27 CFR 5.40 5.40 beveragedo notbeverage mislead and toand consumers. make to make certain certain that theythat they Voluntary Disclosure of Major do notdo mislead not mislead consumers. consumers. VoluntaryFoodVoluntary Allergens Disclosure Disclosure 27 CFRof Major of 5.32a Major TTB investigators conduct product FoodFood Allergens Allergens 27 CFR 27 CFR 5.32a 5.32a TTBintegrity TTBinvestigators fieldinvestigators investigations conduct conduct to checkproduct thatproduct integrityindustryintegrity field members investigationsfield investigations are tofollowing check to check thatall that Federal labeling and production industryindustry members members are arefollowing following all all FederalstandardsFederal labelingfor alcohollabeling andbeverages. andproduction Theseproduction standardsinvestigationsstandards for alcohol for alcoholoften beverages. beverages.include These Thesea investigationscomprehensiveinvestigations often chemical ofteninclude includeanalysis a a comprehensiveconductedcomprehensive at one ofchemical ourchemical two state-of-the-analysis analysis conductedart laboratories.conducted at one at ofone our of two our state-of-the- two state-of-the- art laboratories.art laboratories. This informational pamphlet is designed to educate the American public about This Thisinformational informational pamphlet pamphlet is designed is designed how to read an alcohol beverage label. to educateto educate the Americanthe American public public about about If you want to learn more, visit our web how howto read to readan alcohol an alcohol beverage beverage label. label. Web site at www.ttb.gov. If youIf wantyou wantto learn to learnmore, more, visit ourvisit webour web A proud past....A focused future Web Website at siteTTBTTB www.ttb.gov. at PP 5190www.ttb.gov.5190.22 (0 (04/2008) 4/2008 ) TTB PTTB 5190 P2 5190(04/2002 (084)/2008) 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 The brand name is used to identify and market a distilled designation that accurately identifies the product in the spirits product. A brand name may not mislead the bottle. The regulations are quite specific as to the consumer about the age, identity, origin, or other ingredients and processes used to produce a product of a characteristics of the distilled spirit. given class or type. For instance: Gin must derive its main characteristic flavor from juniper NAME AND ADDRESS berries. In addition, gin labels must also show the commodity from which the product was distilled (e.g., The name and address of the bottler or importer must “Distilled from grain”). appear on the container. However, the address of the bottler's principal place of business may be used instead of Vodka is defined as neutral spirits (alcohol produced from the actual location where the bottling took place. It is also any material at or above 190° proof) so distilled, or so permissible for a bottler/importer to use a duly authorized treated after distillation, as to be without distinctive trade name in place of its usual operating name. character, aroma, taste, or color. Like gin, vodka labels must also show the commodity from which the product was distilled. ALCOHOL CONTENT Rum must be made from the fermented juice of sugar cane, A statement of alcohol content expressed in percent by GIN sugar cane syrup, sugar cane molasses, or other sugar