The When?

The ‘when’ in this blog series refers to whiskey, its ‘Statements of Age’ and how it’s reflected on the label.

In the United States, a specific statement of age is REQUIRED on the label if the whiskey is less than four years old. This applies also to blends, if the youngest whiskey in the blend is under four years old, there must be an age statement on the label. Age refers to the period of time that distilled spirits have been stored in oak containers. This period of time is after distillation and before bottling.

For distilled spirits* the statement of age (whether required or optional) must appear as:

“AGED ____ YEARS” or
“____ YEARS OLD”
(the blank is filled in either with the specific aged year or the age of the youngest distilled spirit in a blend)

For US whiskies* stored in re-used oak, the statement of age (whether required or optional) must appear as:

“_____ STORED  _____ YEARS IN REUSED COOPERAGE”
(the first blank is the type/class of spirit, the second blank is the number of years it was stored)

Or if it is a mixture or blend, it is stated this way:
“_____% _________ STORED  ______YEARS IN REUSED COOPERAGE”
(the first blank is the % of the finished product contributed by each listed spirit (total must = 100%) the second blank is the class/type and the third blank is the number of years stored in reused oak)

EXAMPLE:  Two whiskies distilled from bourbon mash are blended.  Both whiskies are less than 4 years old.  A statement of age is therefore required on the label.  The bottler elects to disclose the age of each whiskey in the blend:

“55% WHISKEY DISTILLED FROM BOURBON MASH STORED 3½ YEARS IN REUSED COOPERAGE
45% WHISKEY DISTILLED FROM BOURBON MASH STORED 2 YEARS IN REUSED COOPERAGE”

For whiskey containing neutral spirits, a statement of age is required and must reference all whiskies contained in the product either:

- Specifically by class/type, e.g., “straight bourbon whiskey,” “rye whiskey,” etc. or
- Generally as “straight whiskey” or “whiskey,” as appropriate.  For example, “straight bourbon whiskey” may be identified as “straight whiskey;” “rye whiskey” may be identified as “whiskey”

If one straight whiskey and/or one other whiskey is contained in the product the statement would read:

“_____% STRAIGHT** WHISKEY _____ YEARS OLD” or
“_____% WHISKEY** ____YEARS OLD”
(the first blank is the % of finished product contributed, the second blank is the specific age)

If two or more straight whiskies or two or more other whiskies are contained in the product the label would read:

“____% STRAIGHT WHISKEY**_____ YEARS OLD ____% STRAIGHT WHISKEY** _____ YEARS OLD” and/or
 “____% WHISKEY**_____ YEARS OLD ____% WHISKEY ** _____ YEARS OLD”
OR
“____% STRAIGHT WHISKIES _____ YEARS OR MORE OLD” and/or
 “____% WHISKIES _____ YEARS OR MORE OLD”
(the first blank is the percentage of the finished product and the second blank is the age of the YOUNGEST whiskey and/or other whiskey in the blend)

EXAMPLE: A blend of straight bourbon whiskey (5%), straight rye whiskey (8%), rye whiskey (10%) and wheat whiskey (12%) are used in the production of a distilled spirits product that also contains neutral spirits.  All of the whiskies are less than 4 years old.  The required age and percentage statement may appear as:

“5% STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY 2 YEARS OLD
8% STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY 3 YEARS OLD
10% RYE WHISKEY 3½ YEARS OLD
12% WHEAT WHISKEY 3 YEARS OLD”
OR
“13% STRAIGHT WHISKIES 2 YEARS OR MORE OLD
22% WHISKIES 3 YEARS OR MORE OLD”

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
-  Bourbon, rye, wheat, malt and rye whiskies must be aged in a new charred oak container. Straight corn whiskey is stored in a used or uncharred oak container).
- The word ‘old’ or any other word implying age is NOT considered an age reference.
- Age may be UNDERSTATED but NOT OVERSTATED. For example, a straight whiskey aged 59 months may not be overstated as “5 years old” but may be understated as “over 4 years old”.

This blog wraps up my four series label deciphering blog. It’s all very complex. However, I believe having this knowledge, or at least retaining portions of it, makes the trip to the liquor store very interesting and somewhat entertaining.

As to the question of ‘handmade’, I refer back to my first blog in this series and ask the question “What is the definition of hand-crafted?” This is a huge and much discussed question with a broad range of opinions! At Murray’s Fools Distilling Co. we believe it is up to the consumer to decide what they consider to be ‘hand-crafted’.

We also believe that an informed CONSUMER will make a better, informed decision. This four part series is intended to piece together portions of information that will help you understand spirit bottle labels and make educated bottle selections that match your palate and perception of ‘hand-crafted’.

* Other than US whiskey stored in re-used oak or whiskies containing neutral spirits.
** Specific type of whiskey or straight whiskey can be used.

To see the first three blogs in this series follow the links below:
Unlocking the Liquor Bottle Label Language | Part One of Four
Unlocking the Liquor Bottle Label Language | Part Two of Four
Unlocking the Liquor Bottle Label Language | Part Three of Four

To view the TTB’s ‘The Beverage Alcohol Manual (BAM)’ CLICK HERE
 
 
 
 
 

The How?

In this blog I highlight the ‘how’ in relation to the label and how it describes what’s inside. I won’t be going into the depths of how the distilling process works. I will talk about things distillers may do during their processes to make their spirit look a certain way or have a certain flavor.

Again, I want to highlight these things because they not only tell the story of your spirit, but also help you make an informed bottled selection.

Color:
Usually, when we talk about color, we’re speaking about brown spirits. These spirits typically develop their colors from the barrel during the aging process. 

However, some distillers that produce spirits that don’t age very long may add color in other ways such as through use of caramel or an artificial coloring. This may be specified on the label as such:

“COLORED WITH CARAMEL”
“CERTIFIED COLOR ADDED”

It is important to note that the use or addition of any coloring, flavoring or blending material may change the class of spirit. For example, if FD&C Yellow is added to straight bourbon, the spirit is no longer classed as ‘straight bourbon whiskey’; it becomes a ‘spirits specialty’ class and MUST BE LABELED with a statement such as:

 “STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKY WITH FD&C YELLOW #5 ADDED”

For this particular addition, it must appear on the FRONT of the label.

There are a few coloring materials considered ‘harmless’ and therefore may be used in a small specified amount without having to appear on the label.

Treatment with Wood:
Another method to add color and taste to a young whisky would be to color and flavor with wood. The wood typically is in the form of chips, slabs or extracts.

If this method is used, a statement something like this is required to appear on the FRONT of the label:

“COLORED AND FLAVORED WITH WOOD CHIPS”

This applies only to whisky and brandy treated with wood (other than the contact with their oak aging barrels) at ANY POINT during the production and storage process and up to and including the time of bottling.

Flavoring Materials
Flavoring materials can include anything from essential oils to herbs, spices and fruit juices. However, all flavoring materials used in alcoholic beverages must be approved by or affirmed as GRAS (generally recognized as safe) by FDA.

In addition for labeling purposes, all flavoring materials are categorized as ALL NATURAL or NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL or ALL ARTIFICIAL.

Blending Materials
Blending materials include wine and sugar. Different rules apply to different spirits with regard to what volume used would be considered ‘harmless’.

Harmless coloring, flavoring and blending materials are any materials that are an essential component of the particular class/type of distilled spirit or any materials that are not essential but are customarily used and do not exceed 2.5% by volume of the finished product.

There is a great chart in the Department of the Treasury Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau’s (TTB) ‘The Beverage and Alcohol Manual (BAM). Follow this link to see the chart online: Use of Harmless Coloring/Flavoring/Blending Materials. 

This chart describes:

• Whether harmless materials may be used or added
• Whether the use or addition is limited to 2.5% volume
• What type of flavoring may be added
• Whether the use of the material must be disclosed on the label
  
  

This is a lot of information to digest, however as I mentioned in the first blog of this series, the team at Murray’s Fools would like to see the consumer make their own conclusions of what they determine to be ‘hand-crafted’ or not. The best way to do that is to walk into the liquor store armed with at least a basic knowledge of what your label may tell you about what’s inside the bottle.

If you missed the first two blogs, or want to refresh your memory, you can check them out here:
Unlocking the Liquor Bottle Label Language | Part One of Four
Unlocking the Liquor Bottle Label Language | Part Two of Four

Watch for the next blog, ‘The When’, where I’ll talk a little bit about the aging process of a spirit.

Part Two of Four: The WHAT?

The TTB mandatory label information includes 15 different items as listed in the Beverage Alcohol Manual Table of Contents. In this four-part blog series I skim the surface of some of these, providing an overview of some of the things you will see on your liquor bottle label and what they could mean.

For the ‘What’ aspect of this series I’m touching on ‘Class and Type’, ‘Alcohol Content’,’ Net Contents’ and ‘Commodity Statement’. There are a few other topics that could be considered a ‘What’ such as ‘Presence of Coloring Materials’ however I feel these become more of the ‘How’ and will speak more  about them later in my upcoming ‘How’ blog.

1. Class and Type Designation

This is the identity of the distilled spirit and must appear on the FRONT of the bottle.
 
The alcoholic beverage category of distilled spirits is divided into a number of general but defined classes, e.g. “Neutral Spirits or Alcohol” and “Gin”.

Below are a few selections I pulled from the TTB chart that categorizes and broadly defines classes and types. Not every option is shown,I’ve listed common and notable spirits. If you want to check out the full list, here is a link for the chart on the TTB website: CLASS AND TYPE DESIGNATION

* Within this class you also have many other versions of these types that include Straight, Distilled from Mash, Light and several Blended versions.
^ Rye, bourbon, rum, or brandy liquor produced using rock candy or sugar syrup.
** Flavored must be indicated on the label, however infused and flavored are not the same thing.

Some examples of required class and type statement are:

“BOURBON WHISKY”
Would be on the label for a whisky produced in the US, not exceeding 80% ABV from fermented mash no less than 51% corn, stored at no more than 62.5% ABV in new charred oak barrels.

“STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKY”
Would be on the label for a Bourbon whiskey stored in charred new oak barrels for 2 yrs. or more. It may include mixtures of two or more straight bourbon whiskies as long as they are made in the same state.

“WHISKY FROM BOURBON MASH”
Would be on the label for a whisky produced in the US, not exceeding 80% ABV from fermented mash no less than 51% corn, stored used charred oak barrels.

2. Alcohol Content

Alcohol content must be indicated on the FRONT of the label and stated in % alcohol by volume, i.e.

40% Alc. by Vol.

Alcohol proof can also be shown in addition to the required ABV statement but must appear on the front with the ABV statement:

40% Alc. by Vol. – 80 Proof
 
3. Net Contents
 
It is a requirement that you can see from the label or the bottle the net contents. Distilled spirits must be bottled, packed or filled in a metric standard of fill. This requirement must be shown on the label and/or blown into the glass of the bottle and must be stated as one of these amounts:
 
1.75 Liters
1 Liter
750 ml
375 ml
200 ml
100 ml
50 ml
 
4. Commodity Statement

It is a requirement for the label to tell you the percentage of neutral spirits and what the neutral spirits were distilled from. For neutral spirits, vodka, grain spirits and gin produced by original distillation the percentage part is not required.
 
So - somewhere on your label (it’s not required to be on the front) you would see something like this:
 
“100% NEUTRAL SPIRITS DISTILLED FROM CORN” or
“100% GRAIN NEUTRAL SPIRITS”
 
OR if produced by original distillation:
 
“DISTILLED FROM RYE”
 
As you can see so far from Part One and Part Two you can really learn the story of your bottle, building a relationship with  what you’re drinking by deciphering the details on the label! Stay tuned for Part Three ‘The How’.