Each liquor bottle for nonindustrial distilled spirits for domestic use must conform to a bottle size specified in the standards of fill set forth in subpart K of part 5 of this chapter. This rule applies to liquor bottles intended for distribution in both interstate and intrastate commerce.

(26 U.S.C. 5301) [T.D. TTB-92, 76 FR 9090, Feb. 16, 2011, as amended by T.D. TTB-196, 89 FR 87939, Nov. 6, 2024]

A proprietor may not use any liquor bottle that the appropriate TTB officer finds is misleading within the meaning of § 5.202 of this chapter. Misleading liquor bottles do not constitute approved containers for the purposes of this part, and a proprietor may not use them for packaging distilled spirits for domestic purposes.

(26 U.S.C. 5301) [T.D. TTB-92, 76 FR 9090, Feb. 16, 2011, as amended by T.D. TTB-196, 89 FR 87939, Nov. 6, 2024]

(a) Application. A proprietor must submit form TTB F 5100.31, Application for and Certification/Exemption of Label/Bottle Approval, to the appropriate TTB officer in order to obtain approval to use domestic liquor bottles of distinctive shapes or designs. The proprietor must certify as to the total capacity of a representative sample bottle before closure (expressed in milliliters) on each copy of the form. In addition, the proprietor must affix a readily legible photograph (showing both front and back of the bottle) to the front of each copy of TTB F 5100.31 along with the label(s) to be used on the bottle. The proprietor must submit to TTB an actual bottle or accurate model only when specifically requested to do so.

(b) Approval. The appropriate TTB officer will approve a distinctive liquor bottle on a properly completed TTB F 5100.31 if the bottle is found to:

(1) Meet the requirements of part 5 of this chapter;

(2) Be distinctive;

(3) Be suitable for its intended purpose;

(4) Not jeopardize the revenue; and

(5) Be not misleading to the consumer.

(c) Retention. A proprietor must keep on file at their premises a copy of the complete approved TTB F 5100.31 for the distinctive liquor bottle.

(d) Cross reference. For procedures regarding issuance, denial and revocation of distinctive liquor bottle approvals, as well as appeal procedures, see part 13 of this chapter.

(26 U.S.C. 5301) [T.D. TTB-92, 76 FR 9090, Feb. 16, 2011, as amended by T.D. TTB-196, 89 FR 87939, Nov. 6, 2024]

A proprietor must obtain a certificate of label approval or an exemption from label approval under part 5 of this chapter on form TTB F 5100.31 for any label that the proprietor will use on bottles of spirits for domestic use. Upon request by the appropriate TTB officer, the proprietor must provide evidence of label approval, or of exemption from label approval, for a label used on a bottle of spirits for domestic use. For procedures regarding the issuance, denial and revocation of certificates of label approval and certificates of exemption from label approval, as well as appeal procedures, see part 13 of this chapter.

(26 U.S.C. 5201)

If a proprietor bottles spirits for domestic use under a certificate of exemption from label approval on form TTB F 5100.31, the following information must appear on the label used on the bottle, in the manner indicated:

(a) Brand name. The brand name on the label must conform to the requirements of § 5.64 of this chapter;

(b) Kind. The class and type of the spirits identified on the label must conform to the requirements of subpart I of part 5 of this chapter;

(c) Alcohol content. The alcohol content on the label must conform to the requirements of § 5.65 of this chapter;

(d) State of distillation. In the case of whisky, the state of distillation statement on the label must conform to the requirements of § 5.66(f) of this chapter;

(e) Net contents. The label must show the net contents, unless the statement of net contents is permanently marked on the side, front, or back of the bottle;

(f) Name and address of bottler. The name and address of the bottler must conform to the requirements of § 19.518;

(g) Age of whisky containing no neutral spirits. In the case of whisky containing no neutral spirits, statements of age and percentage by volume on the label must conform to the requirements of § 5.74 of this chapter;

(h) Age of whisky containing neutral spirits. In the case of whisky containing neutral spirits, the label must state the age of the whisky or whiskies and the respective percentage by volume of whisky or whiskies and neutral spirits in accordance with § 5.74 of this chapter;

(i) Age of brandy. In the case of brandy aged for a period of less than two years, the label must state the age.

(j) Presence of neutral spirits or coloring, flavoring, or blending material. The label must indicate the presence of neutral spirits or coloring, flavoring, or blending material in accordance with §§ 5.71-5.73 of this chapter; and

(k) Country of origin. Labels of imported spirits must state the country of origin in substantially the following form: “Product of ____________,” with the blank filled in with the name of the country of origin.

(26 U.S.C. 5201) [T.D. TTB-92, 76 FR 9090, Feb. 16, 2011, as amended by T.D. TTB-196, 89 FR 87939, Nov. 6, 2024]

In setting forth the name and address of the bottler required by § 19.517(f), the label must contain the words “Bottled by”, “Packed by”, or “Filled by” followed immediately by the name (or trade name) of the bottler and the place where the bottling takes place. If the bottler is the proprietor of more than one distilled spirits plant engaged in bottling operations, the label may include the addresses of all such plants immediately following the name (or trade name) of the bottler. The following additional rules apply to name and address labeling under this section:

(a) Where distilled spirits are bottled by or for the distiller of the spirits, the label may state, in lieu of the words “Bottled by”, “Packed by”, or “Filled by”, followed by the bottler's name (or trade name) and address or addresses, the words “Distilled by”, followed immediately by the name (or trade name) under which the particular spirits were distilled, or by any trade name shown on the distiller's permit covering the premises where the particular spirits were distilled, and the address (or addresses) of the distiller;

(b) Where “straight whiskies” of the same type produced in the same State by two or more different distillers are combined (either at time of bottling or at a warehouseman's bonded premises for further storage) and are subsequently bottled and labeled as “straight whisky”, that “straight whisky” must be labeled as provided in the introductory paragraph of this section. However, where that combined “straight whisky” is bottled by or for the distillers of the whiskies, the label may contain, in lieu of the wording specified in that introductory paragraph, the words “Distilled by”, followed immediately by the name (or trade name) of each distiller that distilled a portion of the “straight whisky”, the address of each of the distilled spirits plants where a portion of the “straight whisky” was distilled, and the percentage of “straight whisky” distilled by each distiller (with a tolerance of plus or minus 2 percent). In addition, where “straight whisky” is made up of a mixture of “straight whiskies” of the same type distilled at two or more distilled spirits plants of the same proprietor located within the same State, and where that “straight whisky” is bottled by or for that proprietor, the label for the “straight whisky” may contain, in lieu of the wording specified in the introductory paragraph of this section, the words “Distilled by” followed by the name (or trade name) of the proprietor and the address of each of the distilled spirits plants that distilled a portion of the “straight whisky”;

(c) Where distilled spirits are bottled by or for the proprietor of a distilled spirits plant, the label may state, in lieu of the words “Bottled by”, “Packed by”, or “Filled by” followed by the bottler's name (or trade name) and address, the words “Blended by”, “Made by”, “Prepared by”, “Manufactured by”, or “Produced by” (whichever is appropriate to the process involved), followed by the name (or trade name) and the address (or addresses) of the distilled spirits plant proprietor;

(d) In the case of labels of distilled spirits bottled for a retailer or other person who is not the proprietor of the distilled spirits plant where the distilled spirits were distilled, the label may also state the name and address of that retailer or other person, preceded immediately by the words “Bottled for”, “Distributed by”, or other similar statement; and

(e) The label may state the address of the proprietor's principal place of business in lieu of the place where the bottling, distilling or processing operation occurred, provided that the address where the bottling, distilling, or other operation occurred is indicated by printing, coding, or other markings, on the label or on the bottle. The coding system employed must permit TTB to determine where the operation stated on the label occurred. Prior to using such a label or bottle coding system, the proprietor must send a notice to the appropriate TTB officer explaining the coding system.

(26 U.S.C. 5201)

(a) Required information. If a proprietor bottles spirits for export, the bottles must have a securely affixed label showing:

(1) The kind (class and type) of spirits;

(2) The percentage of alcohol by volume (ABV) of the spirits;

(3) The net contents, unless the markings on the bottle indicate such contents; and

(4) The name (or trade name) of the bottler.

(b) Additional information. The bottler may place additional information on the export label if it is not inconsistent with the information required under paragraph (a) of this section.

(c) Language. The export label information may appear in the language of the country to which the spirits are to be exported provided that the proprietor maintains on file an English translation of that information. The export label may state the net contents and percentage of alcohol by volume in the units of measurement of the foreign country, provided that the proprietor maintains a record of the equivalent units as required for labels of spirits bottled for domestic consumption.

(d) Waiver. The appropriate TTB officer may waive the requirement to show any information required by this section, other than the kind of spirits, upon a showing that the country to which the spirits are to be exported prohibits the showing of such information. In regard to kind (class and type) of spirits, the appropriate TTB officer may waive the designation required by § 5.63(a)(2) of this chapter, only to the extent that the label need not bear the word “diluted” for distilled spirits bottled below the minimum bottling proof, and provided that this is in accordance with the rules of the country to which the product is to be exported.

(26 U.S.C. 5201, 5301) [T.D. TTB-92, 76 FR 9090, Feb. 16, 2011, as amended by T.D. TTB-196, 89 FR 87939, Nov. 6, 2024]

Spirits removed for shipment to Puerto Rico with benefit of drawback or without payment of tax in accordance with part 28 of this chapter are subject to the provisions of part 5 of this chapter in regard to labeling and standards of fill for bottles.

(26 U.S.C. 5201)

Each bottle or other container of spirits having a capacity of one gallon (3.785 liters) or less must have a closure or other device securely affixed to the container prior to withdrawal from bond or customs custody. The closure or other device must be constructed in such a manner as to require breaking in order to gain access to the contents of the container.

(26 U.S.C. 5301)

A proprietor may reclose bottles of distilled spirits filled on bonded premises as provided in subpart N of this part. A proprietor may also reclose bottles of distilled spirits to which closures or other devices have been affixed as provided in § 19.498.

(26 U.S.C. 5215)