Distilled Spirits FAQs

See the Metric Conversion Table for Distilled Spirits.

What is proof?

Proof is a method of measuring the alcohol content of spirits. You calculate the proof of a spirits product by multiplying the percent of alcohol by volume by two (2). For example, a spirits product that has a 40% alcohol content by volume is 80 proof [40 multiplied by 2 = 80].

How do I calculate proof?

Converting U.S. gallons into proof gallons for tax purposes:

1. Multiply U.S. gallons by the percent of alcohol by volume.

2. Multiply by 2.

3. Divide by 100.

Sample calculation:

1. 100 U.S. gallons x 40% alcohol by volume=4000

2. 4000 x 2=8000

3. 8000/100= 80 proof gallons

You may also find our TTB Proofing Video Series helpful.

Under Federal rules administered by TTB, it depends on how you use the still. You may not produce alcohol with these stills unless you qualify as a distilled spirits plant. However, owning a small still and using it for other purposes is allowed. You should also check with your State and local authorities - their rules may differ. You should also review our Home Distilling page.

A still is defined as apparatus capable of being used to separate ethyl alcohol from a mixture that contains alcohol. Small stills (with a cubic distilling capacity of a gallon or less) that are used for laboratory purposes or for distilling water or other non-alcoholic materials are exempt from our rules. If you buy a small still and use it to distill water or extract essential oils by steam or water extraction methods, you are not subject to TTB requirements. If you produce essential oils by a solvent method and you get alcohol as a by-product of your process, we consider that distilling. Even though you are using and recovering purchased alcohol, you are separating the alcohol from a mixture -distilling.

Under regulations in part 29 of title 27, Code of Federal Regulations, TTB has the right to require manufacturers of stills to give us the name and address of each customer. If we choose to impose this requirement, we inform the manufacturer of the stills by letter. You should also review our Home Distilling page.

The Internal Revenue Code provides three methods for doing this.

1. Spirits that are denatured (i.e., treated with substances to make them unsuitable for human beverage consumption) may be used free of tax by a person who holds an industrial use permit. However, no permit is needed to use completely denatured alcohol or an approved article made from denatured spirits. Denatured spirits are suitable in a wide range of industrial applications, from mouthwash to fuel, etc., but not in products for internal human consumption, unless the spirits are removed.
2. Persons such as research laboratories, hospitals, universities and government agencies may use un-denatured tax-free alcohol if they hold an industrial use permit. Un-denatured tax-free alcohol is prohibited from use in the manufacture of any product for sale.
3. Un-denatured distilled spirits on which the tax has been paid may be used in the manufacture of medicines, medicinal preparations, food products, flavors, flavoring extracts, and perfume; and then drawback may be claimed. This drawback is similar to a refund; however, the drawback rate is $1 per proof gallon less than the applicable tax rate. The Government keeps the difference. For further information on using distilled spirits in any of these ways, please contact the TTB National Revenue Center at 877-882-3277.

Have you heard about the science fair project or school project where a student:

• Builds a homemade still,
• Lets leftover food scraps ferment and turn into alcohol,
• Burns the alcohol in a lantern, and
• Compares the alcohol to other sources of energy?

A. Under current law and regulations, we cannot allow you to conduct experiments involving distillation of alcohol at your home.

As an alternative, Federal law allows us to issue a permit for an alcohol fuel plant (AFP). Under this type of permit, experiments with alcohol fuels can be conducted at locations properly qualified with TTB.

Here's what you need to do to qualify:

• An authorized representative of your school (a teacher or other school official) must complete and forward an application form 5110.74 to us to establish a small AFP at your school.
• The experiment must be conducted at your school under appropriate adult supervision.
• The school official must tell us how long the experiment will last. They may allow for additional time in case your experiment is selected for additional competition or display at a regional or area science fair.
• The school official must describe the adult supervision that will be provided. We require this because we are concerned about the safety of children handling hazardous materials and using distillation equipment with alcohol even with adult supervision.

These steps apply primarily to students who are in elementary through high school. Make sure your application is filed as soon as possible to allow enough time for us to process it. You cannot begin the experiment until we issue you a permit.

Application form 5110.74 and additional information are available from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, National Revenue Center, Spirits Unit A, 550 Main Street, Room 8970, Cincinnati, OH 45202-3222. You may also contact us by phone at 877-882-3277, or submit an online inquiry.

Beer

Production.

Removal of beer.

Wine

Wine for personal or family use.

Spirits

You may not produce spirits for beverage purposes without paying taxes and without prior approval of paperwork to operate a distilled spirits plant. [See 26 U.S.C. 5601 & 5602 for some of the criminal penalties. You should also review our Home Distilling page.] There are numerous requirements that must be met that also make it impractical to produce spirits for personal or beverage use. Some of these requirements are filing an extensive application, filing a bond, providing adequate equipment to measure spirits, providing suitable tanks and pipelines, providing a separate building (other than a dwelling) and maintaining detailed records, and filing reports. All of these requirements are listed in 27 CFR Part 19.

Spirits may be produced for nonbeverage purposes for fuel use only without payment of tax, but you also must file an application, receive TTB's approval, and follow requirements, such as construction, use, records and reports.

A description of specialized farming practices generally may appear on alcohol beverage labels as additional information provided it is truthful, accurate, specific, and does not conflict with, or in any manner qualify, mandatory labeling information. However, due to the constantly evolving nature of this field, TTB reserves the right to request clarification and documented verification of any graphics, seals, logos, definitions or language appearing on labels. For instance, any label specifically stating that the producer is certified by an agricultural organization must have documented proof.

Terms that refer to the environmental impact of the process and packaging rather than the product itself are usually acceptable. These words and phrases may not modify mandatory information on brand labels, but might appear as additional information after review on a case-by-case basis.

No. In general, an experimental DSP permit does not cover activities such as refining recipes and perfecting production processes as a precursor to commercial production. The laws administered by TTB, specifically the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 at 26 U.S.C. 5312, provide for the establishment of experimental distilled spirits plants for the production and use of distilled spirits for experimental research. Specifically, section 5312(b) provides for the establishment and operation of experimental distilled spirits plants for specific and limited periods of time solely for experimentation in or development of:

1. sources of materials from which distilled spirits may be produced;
2. processes by which distilled spirits may be produced or refined; or
3. industrial uses of distilled spirits.

TTB regulations at 27 CFR 19.32 and 19.33 implement this statutory provision.

Under the law and regulations, TTB does not have the authority to issue an experimental DSP permit to a person who intends to use standard sources of materials and standard processes. Refining recipes and perfecting production processes do not fall within the meaning of experimentation in, or development of, sources of materials or processes of production, if the sources of the materials and the production processes are consistent with those already established within the distilled spirits industry.

Last reviewed/updated 3/17/2014

Please visit TTB's Personal Importation of Beverage Alcohol Products page for information on bringing alcohol into the U.S. for non-commercial purposes.

Some States have enacted, or propose to enact, laws that allow retailers to purchase for resale “vintage” distilled spirits from non-licensed persons, for on or off-premises consumption.  With certain limited exceptions detailed below, it is unlawful for a retailer to purchase distilled spirits, whether “vintage” or otherwise, for resale from individuals or businesses that do not hold a Federal permit.

TTB administers provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) that apply to retailers and wholesalers of alcohol beverages.  Under the IRC and the TTB regulations issued under the authority of the IRC, it is generally unlawful for any alcohol beverage dealer (including wholesalers and retailers) to purchase distilled spirits for resale from any person other than:  

• a wholesaler;
• a retail liquor store operated by a State, a political subdivision of a State, or the District of Columbia; or
• a person not required to register as a wholesaler (referred to under the regulations as a “wholesale liquor dealer”) under the TTB regulations at 27 CFR §§ 31.61, 31.62, 31.63, 31.66, and 31.67, which specify those who are not required to register as a wholesale liquor dealer and generally do not include individual collectors. 

See 26 U.S.C. 5132 and 5121(c), and the TTB regulations at 27 CFR 31.141 for more details. 

In addition to the above, TTB administers the provisions of the Federal Alcohol Administration Act (FAA Act), which in part prohibit engaging in the business of purchasing distilled spirits for resale at wholesale (i.e., to any wholesaler or retailer), or, while so engaged, selling those distilled spirits in interstate or foreign commerce without a Federal wholesaler basic permit.  See 27 U.S.C. 203(c). 

As a result, although State law may allow a person that is not licensed by the State to purchase “vintage” distilled spirits for resale to wholesalers or retailers, Federal law still requires an FAA Act basic permit if the frequency or quantity of such person’s purchases and/or sales is sufficient to constitute “engaging in business” as a wholesaler.  See 27 U.S.C. 203(c) and the TTB regulations at 27 CFR 1.22. 

State law does not preempt or otherwise negate the Federal requirements set forth above.

Formulas.  The TTB formula requirements apply to distilled spirits manufactured in the United States even if the spirits are sold exclusively in intrastate commerce (see 27 CFR 19.348).  Please note that only certain distilled spirits products require formulas. For more information about formula requirements, see 27 CFR 5.192 and 5.193, TTB Ruling 2016-3, Industry Circular 2018-6, TTB G 2017-10, and TTB G 2016-3.

Labels. If you are bottling spirits that are not to be sold, offered for sale, or shipped or delivered for shipment, or otherwise introduced into interstate commerce, you may apply for a certificate of exemption from label approval (see 27 U.S.C. 205(e) and 27 CFR 5.23). Products covered by a certificate of exemption are generally not subject to the labeling requirements of the Federal Alcohol Administration Act (FAA Act), which are found in 27 CFR part 5, including the labeling rules found in Subpart H (see 27 CFR 5.121-5.130). However, these products are subject to the mandatory labeling requirements found in 27 CFR 19.517, which include some of the same mandatory information found in the FAA Act labeling regulations. For example, under this regulation, distilled spirits sold in intrastate commerce must be designated in accordance with the class and type regulations found at Subpart I (see 27 CFR 5.141-5.156). 

Health Warning Statement. Please note that all alcoholic beverages manufactured, imported, or bottled for sale or distribution in the United States must bear the Health Warning Statement as required under the Alcoholic Beverage Labeling Act of 1988, regardless of whether the product is sold exclusively in intrastate commerce (see 27 U.S.C. 215, 27 CFR 5.7(a), and 27 CFR 16.21).

Standards of Fill. Finally, all liquor bottles for domestic use must comply with the TTB standard of fill requirements, regardless of whether the bottles are intended for distribution in interstate or intrastate commerce (see 27 CFR 19.511). See also 27 CFR 5.203 for the list of allowable standards of fill.

Last reviewed/updated 02/23/2023

TTB regulates these products as alcohol beverages under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (IRC) if the products are “fit for beverage purposes.”  See generally 27 CFR 1.62 and 19.5.

As explained in § 19.5, TTB uses the standards outlined in 27 CFR part 17 to determine whether products are fit or unfit for beverage purposes.  TTB’s Nonbeverage Products Laboratory has the primary authority under 27 CFR 17.134 to determine whether products are fit or unfit for beverage purposes.  If a food product, such as an ice cream product, is determined to be fit for beverage purposes, then it would be treated as an alcohol beverage under the TTB regulations.  In this case, the product and its manufacturer would be subject to all applicable rules and regulations pertaining to the manufacture, distribution, and sale of an alcohol beverage, including requirements related to permitting, taxation, formulation, advertising and labeling.  If a food product is determined to be unfit for beverage purposes, then TTB would not treat it as an alcohol beverage.  (In this case, a manufacturer who uses taxpaid distilled spirits to make the product would be subject to TTB regulations in 27 CFR part 17 if the manufacturer chose to file a claim for the Federal excise taxes paid on the distilled spirits used, referred to in the TTB regulations as “drawback.”)

TTB regulations at 27 CFR 17.133(d) state that “ice cream and ices” have been found to be unfit for beverages purposes “where only sufficient spirits are used for flavoring purposes.”  In determining whether a frozen dessert product containing distilled spirits is unfit for beverage purposes, TTB considers a range of criteria related to the product which may affect its potential fitness or unfitness for beverage purposes.  In general, these criteria focus on the alcohol content of the product, the purpose served by the alcoholic ingredients in the product, whether other features of the product’s composition constrain its consumption as a beverage, and other relevant factors.  While alcohol content for beverage products is generally determined by volume, in the case of frozen dessert products, it may be necessary for TTB to measure alcohol content by weight.  Additionally, as provided in § 17.134, TTB considers a product’s sale or use for beverage purposes to be indicative of fitness for beverage use.

In light of all the factors mentioned above TTB has found that ice cream products are generally unfit for beverage purposes if they contain no greater than 2% alcohol by weight for flavoring purposes.  However, some frozen dessert products containing no greater than 2% alcohol by weight, including some ice cream products, may still be found to be fit for beverage purposes depending on the characteristics of the product and the application of the criteria described above.  For example, TTB review of a range of frozen dessert products has shown that ice pop products generally have a higher density than ice cream products, and thus contain higher concentrations of alcohol at the same unit of volume.  TTB has also found that ice pop products generally have a lower solids content than ice cream products, which indicates that the ice pop products lack ingredients that may act to constrain their consumption as a beverage.  Taking these factors into consideration, TTB has found that in many cases ice pop products may be fit for beverage purposes if they contain 0.5% alcohol by volume or greater.

Because the composition of frozen dessert products varies, TTB continues to evaluate these products on a case by case basis.  TTB also recognizes that frozen dessert products may be made with wine or beer.  Generally, TTB evaluates these products in the same manner as products containing distilled spirits.

For more information on submitting nonbeverage products, refer to the Drawback Tutorial. Interested parties who have questions concerning this guidance may also contact the Regulations and Rulings Division at 202-453-2265 or use the Contact Us form.