(a) Receipt of bulk spirits. A proprietor may receive bulk spirits into the processing account:

(1) From the production or storage account at the same plant;

(2) By transfer in bond from another distilled spirits plant; or

(3) By withdrawal from customs custody under 26 U.S.C. 5232.

(b) Receipt of wines. A proprietor may receive wines into the processing account:

(1) From the storage account at the same plant; or

(2) By transfer in bond from a bonded wine cellar or another distilled spirits plant.

(c) Receipt of spirits returned to bond. A proprietor may receive spirits into the processing account that are returned to bond under the provisions of 26 U.S.C. 5215.

(d) Receipt of alcoholic flavoring materials. A proprietor may receive alcoholic flavoring materials into the processing account.

(e) Dumping of spirits, wines, and alcoholic flavoring materials. As provided in §§ 19.343 and 19.598, the proprietor must prepare a dump/batch record when spirits, wines, and alcoholic flavoring materials are dumped for use in the processing account. Spirits, wines, and alcoholic flavoring materials that are dumped into the processing account are subject to the following rules:

(1) Spirits and wines received in bulk containers or conveyances may be retained in the containers or conveyances in which received until used, but must be recorded as dumped upon receipt;

(2) Spirits and wines received by pipeline must be deposited in tanks and recorded as dumped on receipt; and

(3) Alcoholic flavoring materials may be retained in the containers in which received or may be transferred to another container if the proprietor marks or otherwise indicates thereon, the full identification of the original container, the date of receipt, and the quantity deposited. Alcoholic flavoring materials and nonalcoholic ingredients will be considered dumped when mixed with spirits or wines.

(f) Gauging. A proprietor must determine the proof gallon content of spirits, wines, and alcoholic flavoring materials at the time of dumping. Additional information regarding the gauging of spirits, wines, and alcoholic flavoring materials is found in subpart K of this part.

(26 U.S.C. 5201)

A proprietor must prepare a dump/batch record in accordance with § 19.598 for spirits, wines, alcoholic flavoring materials, and nonalcoholic ingredients used in the manufacture of a distilled spirits product according to the following rules.

(a) Dump record. A proprietor must prepare a dump record when spirits, wines, or alcoholic flavoring materials are dumped for use in the manufacture of a distilled spirits product, and when spirits are dumped for redistillation in the processing account.

(b) Batch record. A proprietor must prepare a batch record to report:

(1) The dumping of spirits that are to be used immediately and in their entirety in preparing a batch of a product manufactured under an approved formula;

(2) The use of spirits or wines previously dumped, reported on dump records and retained in tanks or receptacles; or

(3) The use of any combination of ingredients under paragraph (b)(1) or paragraph (b)(2) of this section in preparing a batch of product manufactured under an approved formula.

(26 U.S.C. 5201)

(a) Distilled spirits and wine may be used for the manufacture of flavors or flavoring extracts of a nonbeverage nature as intermediate products to be used exclusively in the manufacture of other distilled spirits products on bonded premises.

(b) Nonbeverage products on which drawback will be claimed, as provided in 26 U.S.C. 5111-5114, may not be manufactured on bonded premises. Premises used for the manufacture of nonbeverage products on which drawback will be claimed must be separated from bonded premises.

(c) For purposes of computing an effective tax rate, flavors manufactured on either the bonded or general premises of a distilled spirits plant are not eligible flavors. See § 19.1 for the definition of the term “eligible flavor” and further restrictions that apply to the manufacture of an eligible flavor.

(26 U.S.C. 5201)

This subpart covers processing operations at distilled spirits plants. A proprietor authorized to perform processing operations must conduct processing operations in accordance with the provisions of this subpart. Subpart V of this part sets forth recordkeeping requirements that apply to processing operations. Also, the provisions of subpart O of this part apply if a proprietor denatures spirits or manufactures articles on bonded premises as part of processing operations under this subpart.

(26 U.S.C. 5201)

A proprietor may determine, as provided in § 30.32 of this chapter, the proof obscuration of spirits to be bottled on the basis of a representative sample taken from a storage tank before the transfer of the spirits to the processing account or from a tank after the spirits have been dumped for processing, whether or not combined with other alcoholic ingredients. The obscuration will be determined after the sample has been reduced to within one degree of bottling proof. Only water may be added to a lot of spirits to be bottled for which the determination of proof obscuration is made from a sample under this section. The proof obscuration for spirits gauged under this section must be frequently verified by testing samples taken from bottling tanks before bottling.

(26 U.S.C. 5204)

A proprietor must obtain approval of a formula on form TTB F 5100.51 as provided in §§ 5.26 and 5.27 of this chapter before a proprietor may:

(a) Blend, mix, purify, refine, compound, or treat spirits in any manner which results in a change of character, composition, class, or type of the spirits, including redistillation as provided in § 19.314; or

(b) Produce gin or vodka by other than original and continuous distillation.

(26 U.S.C. 5201, 5555)

(a) Method of removal. A proprietor may remove spirits or wines from the processing account in any approved bulk container, by pipeline, or in bulk conveyances in compliance with the provisions of this part. Spirits may be bottled and cased for removal.

(b) Authorized removals from processing. A proprietor may remove from processing:

(1) Spirits, upon tax determination or withdrawal under 26 U.S.C. 5214 or 26 U.S.C. 7510;

(2) Spirits, to the production account at the same plant for redistillation;

(3) Bulk spirits, by transfer in bond to production or processing account at another distilled spirits plant for redistillation or further processing;

(4) Spirits or wines, for authorized voluntary destruction; or

(5) Wines, by transfer in bond to a bonded wine cellar or to another distilled spirits plant. However, wine may not be removed from the bonded premises of a distilled spirits plant for consumption or sale as wine.

(c) Exception. Except as provided in paragraph (b)(2) and (3) of this section, spirits may not be transferred from the processing account to the storage account.

(26 U.S.C. 5001, 5006, 5008, 5201, 5206, 5212, 5214, 5223, 5362)

Generally, a proprietor must bottle all spirits from tanks that are listed in the notice of registration and have been certified as accurate. However, if a proprietor files a letterhead application and shows the need to do so, the appropriate TTB officer may authorize bottling from original packages, tank trucks, totes or special containers where it is not practical to use a bottling tank. In addition, a proprietor may bottle liqueurs directly from a tank truck or tote without applying for permission to TTB if the liqueurs are gauged prior to unloading and piped directly to the bottling line.

(26 U.S.C. 5201)

When a distilled spirits product is to be bottled or packaged, the proprietor must gauge the product after any filtering, reduction, or other treatment, and before bottling or packaging begins. The gauge must be made at labeling or package marking proof, subject to variations in accordance with the tolerances set forth in § 19.356(c); however, the actual measurement of the gauge must be entered on the bottling and packaging record required in § 19.599.

(26 U.S.C. 5201) [T.D. TTB-92, 76 FR 9090, Feb. 16, 2011, as amended by T.D. TTB-158, 86 FR 18726, Apr. 2, 2020; 85 FR 20424, Apr. 13, 2020]

A proprietor must prepare a record for each batch of spirits bottled or packaged as provided in § 19.599. A proprietor must keep a separate daily summary record of spirits bottled or packaged as provided in § 19.601.

(26 U.S.C. 5201, 5207)

(a) Labels affixed to containers must accurately describe the spirits in the tanks from which the containers are filled. The proprietor's records must enable TTB officers to readily determine which label was used on any filled container.

(b) Additional information regarding labeling requirements is found in subpart T of this part and part 5 of this chapter.

(26 U.S.C. 5201)

(a) General. At representative intervals during bottling operations, a proprietor must examine and test bottled spirits to determine whether the alcohol content and quantity (fill) of those spirits agree with what is stated on the label or the bottle. A proprietor's test procedures must be adequate to ensure accuracy of labels on the bottled product. Proprietors must record the results of all tests of alcohol content and quantity (fill) in the record required by § 19.600.

(b) Variations in fill. Quantity (fill) must be kept as close to 100 percent fill as the equipment and bottles in use will permit. There must be approximately the same number of overfills and underfills for each lot bottled. In no case will the quantity contained in a bottle vary from the quantity stated on the label or bottle by more than plus or minus:

(1) 1.5 percent for bottles 1.0 liter and above;

(2) 2.0 percent for bottles 999 mL through 376 mL;

(3) 3.0 percent for bottles 375 mL through 101 mL; or

(4) 4.5 percent for bottles 100 mL and below.

(c) Variations in alcohol content. Variations in alcohol content may not exceed 0.3 percent alcohol by volume above or below the alcohol content stated on the label.

(d) Example. Under paragraph (c) of this section, a product labeled as containing 40 percent alcohol by volume would be acceptable if the test for alcohol content found that it contained no less than 39.7 percent alcohol by volume and no more than 40.3 percent alcohol by volume.

(26 U.S.C. 5201, 5301) [T.D. TTB-92, 76 FR 9090, Feb. 16, 2011, as amended by T.D. TTB-158, 85 FR 18726, Apr. 2, 2020; 85 FR 20424, Apr. 13, 2020]

When the contents of a bottling tank are not completely bottled at the close of the day, the proprietor must make entries on the bottling and packaging record covering the total quantity bottled that day from the tank. Entries must be made not later than the morning of the following business day unless the proprietor maintains auxiliary or supplemental records as provided in § 19.580.

(26 U.S.C. 5201)

(a) On completion of bottling, a proprietor must place filled bottles with properly affixed closures in cases. A proprietor may only fill cases with the same kind, size, and proof of spirits. Normally, the cases must be sealed; however, cases may be temporarily retained on bonded premises without being sealed pending the affixing to bottles of any required labels, State stamps, or seals. Unsealed cases must be marked in accordance with subpart S of this part, and segregated from other cases until sealed. All cases must be sealed and marked as provided in subpart S of this part before removal from the bonded premises.

(b) Filled bottles may remain on the bottling line at the end of the workday if the identical product will be bottled on the next bottling shift and if adequate security measures are in place to prevent theft.

(26 U.S.C. 5201, 5206)

When at the end of a bottling run fewer bottles remain than the number necessary to fill a case, the remaining bottles may be placed in a case marked as a remnant case or kept uncased on the bonded premises until spirits of the same kind are again bottled. The remnant bottles may later be used to complete the filling of a case, or may be used for another lawful purpose such as replacing accidental breakage occurring on bonded premises.

(26 U.S.C. 5201, 5206)

A proprietor may draw spirits into packages from a tank meeting the requirements of §§ 19.182 through 19.184. A proprietor must gauge the packages, report the details of the gauge on a package gauge record as provided in § 19.619, and attach a copy of the package gauge record to each copy of the bottling and packaging record covering the product. The packages must be marked as provided in subpart S of this part.

(26 U.S.C. 5201)

(a) When a proprietor removes spirits from the processing account in bulk conveyances or by pipeline, the proprietor must record the removal on the bottling and packaging record.

(b) Transfers and withdrawals of bulk spirits from the processing account must be performed in accordance with the provisions of subpart P of this part.

(c) The consignor of the transfer must forward to the consignee a statement of composition or a copy of any formula under which the spirits were processed for determining the proper use of the spirits, or for the labeling of the finished product.

(d) Bulk conveyances must be marked as provided in subpart S this part.

(26 U.S.C. 5201)

When spirits are dumped for rebottling, the proprietor must prepare an appropriately modified bottling and packaging record. If the spirits were originally bottled by another proprietor, the rebottling proprietor must obtain a statement from the original bottler consenting to the rebottling.

(26 U.S.C. 5201)

(a) A proprietor may reclose or relabel distilled spirits before removal from, or after return to, bonded premises. The reclosing or relabeling of spirits returned to bonded premises must be done immediately, and the spirits promptly removed.

(b) If the spirits were originally bottled by another proprietor, the relabeling proprietor must have on file a statement from the original bottler consenting to the relabeling.

(c) When spirits are relabeled, the proprietor must have a certificate of label approval or certificate of exemption from label approval issued under part 5 of this chapter for the labels used on relabeled spirits.

(d) A proprietor must prepare a separate record under § 19.604 for the relabeling or reclosing of spirits.

(26 U.S.C. 5201, 5215)

If a proprietor labels spirits as bottled-in-bond for domestic consumption the labels must meet the requirements in part 5 of this chapter and the bottles must bear a closure or other device as required by subpart T of this part.

(26 U.S.C. 5201)

Spirits produced in the United States and originally intended for domestic use may be exported with benefit of drawback or without payment of tax if the containers are marked as required by part 28 of this chapter. A proprietor may relabel the spirits to show any of the information required by § 19.519. If a proprietor intends to file a claim for drawback on spirits prepared for export under this section, the proprietor must follow the provisions of § 28.195b of this chapter. If a proprietor intends to withdraw spirits without payment of tax for export, the proprietor must follow the procedures in subpart E of part 28 of this chapter.

(26 U.S.C. 5062, 5214)

(a) Containers. A proprietor may put alcohol for industrial use in bottles, packages, or other containers, subject to the provisions of subpart S of this part. A proprietor must follow the provisions of subpart T of this part when bottling alcohol for nonindustrial domestic use.

(b) Closures. Closures or other devices must be affixed to containers of alcohol as provided in subpart T of this part.

(c) Bottle labels. All bottles of alcohol for industrial use must have a label that is securely affixed to the bottle showing the word “Alcohol” and the name and plant number of the bottler. The proprietor may place additional information on the label if it is not inconsistent with the required information.

(d) Case marks. Each case of bottled alcohol must bear the marks required by subpart S of this part.

(26 U.S.C. 5201, 5206, 5235, 5301)

A proprietor must take a physical inventory of all wines and bulk spirits (except packages) held in the processing account at the close of each calendar quarter. The results of the inventory must be recorded as provided in subpart V of this part. TTB may require additional inventories at any time.

(26 U.S.C. 5201)

(a) Physical inventories. Generally, a proprietor must take physical inventories of bottled and packaged spirits in the processing account for the return periods ending June 30 and December 31, and at any other time that the appropriate TTB officer requires. Physical inventories may be taken within a period of a few days before or after June 30 or December 31 if:

(1) The period does not include more than one complete weekend; and

(2) Necessary adjustments are made to the inventory record to reflect the actual quantities on hand June 30 or December 31.

(b) Alternate dates. On approval of an application filed with the appropriate TTB officer, required physical inventories may be taken on dates other than June 30 and December 31 if the dates established for taking such inventories:

(1) Coincide with the end of a return period, and

(2) Are approximately 6 months apart.

(c) Waiver of physical inventory. A proprietor may file an application to take only one physical inventory per year. The appropriate TTB officer may approve the application if she or he finds that only one physical inventory per year will be sufficient to protect the revenue. However, the requirement for the waived inventory may be reimposed if it becomes necessary for protection of the revenue.

(d) Notification of physical inventory. A proprietor must notify the appropriate TTB officer at least 5 business days in advance of the date and time of a physical inventory of bottled or packaged spirits. TTB officers may be assigned to verify or supervise physical inventories taken under the provisions of this section.

(26 U.S.C. 5201)