TTB Public Guidance
September 29, 2016
TTB G 2016-3
PRE-COLA PRODUCT EVALUATIONS FOR
DISTILLED SPIRITS PRODUCTS
The following chart lists the current pre-COLA product evaluation requirements for a number of distilled spirits products. An “X” in the table indicates that a pre-COLA product evaluation of the type shown is required as a condition of COLA approval for the product and must be obtained prior to applying for label approval. A copy of the approved pre- COLA document must be submitted with the COLA application. Descriptions of the pre- COLA product evaluations are provided in the text of Industry Circular 2018–6.
This chart is provided as general guidance. Particular circumstances may dictate the need for a pre-COLA product evaluation for a specific product even though no such requirement is indicated on the chart.
This chart will be updated from time to time as TTB policy changes. The date of the most recent revision is listed at the end of the chart.
PRODUCT |
DOMESTIC (D) OR |
LABORATORY ANALYSIS |
PRE-IMPORT LETTER |
FORMULA (TTB F 5100.51 or |
COMMENT |
A Blend Of Straight Bourbon Whiskies Or Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskies |
D |
- |
- |
- |
PRODUCT OF U.S. ONLY |
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
A Blend Of Straight Corn Whiskies Or |
D |
- |
- |
- |
|
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
A Blend Of Straight Malt Whiskies Or Blended Straight Malt Whiskies |
D |
- |
- |
- |
|
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
A Blend Of Straight Rye Malt Whiskies Or Blended Straight Rye Malt Whiskies |
D |
- |
- |
- |
|
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
A Blend Of Straight Rye Whiskies Or |
D |
- |
- |
- |
|
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
A Blend Of Straight Wheat Whiskies Or |
D |
- |
- |
- |
|
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
A Blend Of Straight Whiskies Or Blended Straight Whiskies |
D |
- |
- |
- |
|
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Advocaat |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Alcohol |
D |
- |
- |
- |
|
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Amaretto |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Anise |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Anisette |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Applejack |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
*Formulas required only if harmless coloring, flavoring, or blending materials are added, other than the follow ing: sugar, caramel, fruit juice of the same type of fruit from w hich the brandy is distilled (for example, apple juice may be added to apple brandy), or w ine |
I |
X |
- |
- |
||
Apricot Sour |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Aquavit |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Arack/Arak |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Armagnac |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
*PRODUCT OF FRANCE ONLY; |
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Bitters |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Black Russian |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Blended Applejack Or Applejack – A |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
X |
- |
- |
||
Blended Bourbon Whisky Or Bourbon |
D |
- |
- |
X |
PRODUCT OF U.S. ONLY |
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Blended Canadian Whisky Or Canadian Whisky – A Blend |
D |
- |
- |
- |
PRODUCT OF CANADA ONLY |
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Blended Corn Whisky Or Corn Whisky – A Blend |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
X |
- |
- |
||
Blended Irish Whisky Or Irish Whisky – |
D |
- |
- |
- |
PRODUCT OF THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND OR NORTHERN IRELAND ONLY |
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Blended Light Whisky Or Light Whisky – |
D |
- |
- |
X |
PRODUCT OF U.S. ONLY |
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Blended Malt Whisky Or Malt Whisky – A |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
X |
- |
- |
||
Blended Rye Malt Whisky Or Rye Malt Whisky – A Blend |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
X |
- |
- |
||
Blended Rye Whisky Or Rye Whisky – A Blend |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
X |
- |
- |
||
Blended Scotch Whisky Or Scotch |
D |
- |
- |
- |
PRODUCT OF SCOTLAND ONLY |
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Blended Wheat Whisky Or Wheat |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
X |
- |
- |
||
Blended Whisky Or Whisky – A Blend |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
X |
- |
- |
||
Bourbon Cordial/Bourbon Liqueur |
D |
- |
- |
X |
PRODUCT OF U.S. ONLY |
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Bourbon Whisky |
D |
- |
- |
- |
PRODUCT OF U.S. ONLY |
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Brandy (Grape Only) |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
*Formulas required only if harmless coloring, flavoring, or blending materials are added, other than the follow ing: sugar, caramel, fruit juice of the same type of fruit from w hich the brandy is distilled (for example, apple juice may be added to apple brandy), or w ine |
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Brandy Alexander |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Brandy Cordial/ Brandy Liqueur |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Cachaca |
D |
- |
- |
- |
PRODUCT OF BRAZIL ONLY. |
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Calvados |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
*PRODUCT OF FRANCE ONLY; |
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Canadian Whisky |
D |
- |
- |
- |
PRODUCT OF CANADA ONLY |
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Cognac |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
*PRODUCT OF FRANCE ONLY; |
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Cordial |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Corn Whisky |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
* Formulas/Pre-import letter required only if harmless coloring, flavoring, or blending materials are added, other than the follow ing: sugar, w ine, or caramel, singly or in combination, in a quantity that does not exceed 2 ½ percent by volume of the finished product. |
I |
- |
X* |
- |
||
|
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Curacao |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Distilled Spirits Specialty (Product |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Dried Fruit Brandy (e.g., “Raisin Brandy”) |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
* Formulas required only if |
I |
X |
- |
- |
||
Egg Nog |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Flavored Brandy |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
X |
- |
- |
||
Flavored Gin |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
X |
- |
- |
||
Flavored Rum |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
X |
- |
- |
||
Flavored Vodka |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
X |
- |
- |
||
Flavored Whisky |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
X |
- |
- |
||
Fruit Brandy (Other Than Grape, e.g., |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
* Formulas required only if |
I |
X |
- |
- |
||
Gin - Compound |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Gin - Distilled |
D |
- |
- |
- |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Gin - Redistilled |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Gin Cordial/Gin Liqueur |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Goldw asser |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Grain Spirits |
D |
- |
- |
- |
|
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Grappa/Grappa Brandy |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
* Formulas required only if harmless coloring, flavoring, or blending materials are added, other than the follow ing: sugar, caramel, fruit juice of the same type of fruit from w hich the brandy is distilled (for example, apple juice may be added to apple brandy), or w ine |
I |
X |
- |
- |
||
Imitation Distilled Spirits |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
X |
- |
- |
||
Immature Brandy (Grape Only) |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
* Formulas required only if |
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Irish Whisky |
D |
- |
- |
- |
PRODUCT OF THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND OR NORTHERN IRELAND ONLY |
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Kirschw asser |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
X |
- |
- |
||
Kummel |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Lees Brandy (Any Kind) |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
* Formulas required only if |
I |
X |
- |
- |
||
Light Whisky |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
PRODUCT OF U.S. ONLY |
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Liqueur |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Malt Whisky |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
* Formulas/Pre-import letter required only if harmless coloring, flavoring, or blending materials are added, other than the follow ing: sugar, w ine, or caramel, singly or in combination, in a quantity that does not exceed 2 ½ percent by volume of the finished product. |
I |
- |
X* |
- |
||
Marc Brandy (Any Kind) |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
* Formulas required only if harmless coloring, flavoring, or blending materials are added, other than the follow ing: sugar, caramel, fruit juice of the same type of fruit from w hich the brandy is distilled (for example, apple juice may be added to apple brandy), or w ine |
I |
X |
- |
- |
||
Mescal/Mezcal |
D |
- |
- |
- |
PRODUCT OF MEXICO ONLY |
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Neutral Brandy (Any Kind) |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
* Formulas required only if harmless coloring, flavoring, or blending materials are added, other than the follow ing: sugar, caramel, fruit juice of the same type of fruit from w hich the brandy is distilled (for example, apple juice may be added to apple brandy), or w ine |
I |
X |
- |
- |
||
Neutral Spirits |
D |
- |
- |
- |
|
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Ouzo |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Peppermint Schnapps |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Pisco |
D |
- |
- |
- |
PRODUCT OF PERU OR |
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Pomace Brandy (Any Kind) |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
* Formulas required only if |
I |
X |
- |
- |
||
Powdered Distilled Spirits |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
X |
- |
- |
||
Raki |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Recognized Cocktails |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
*The product must appear in an industry-recognized bartending guide. |
I |
- |
X* |
- |
||
Residue Brandy (Any Kind) |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
* Formulas required only if |
I |
X |
- |
- |
||
Rock And Bourbon |
D |
- |
- |
X |
PRODUCT OF U.S. ONLY |
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Rock And Brandy |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Rock And Rum |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Rock And Rye |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Rum |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
* Formulas required only if harmless coloring, flavoring, or blending materials are added, other than the follow ing: sugar, brow n sugar, molasses, or caramel, singly or in combination, in a quantity that does not exceed a total of 2 ½ percent by volume of the |
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Rum Cordial/Rum Liqueur |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Rye Cordial/Rye Liqueur |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Rye Malt Whisky |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
* Formulas/Pre-import letter |
I |
- |
X* |
- |
||
Rye Whisky |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
* Formulas/Pre-import letter required only if harmless coloring, flavoring, or blending materials are added, other than the follow ing: sugar, w ine, or caramel, singly or in combination, in a quantity that does not exceed 2 ½ percent by volume of the finished product. |
I |
- |
X* |
- |
||
Sambuca |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Scotch Whisky |
D |
- |
- |
- |
PRODUCT OF SCOTLAND ONLY |
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Slivovitz |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
* Formulas required only if |
I |
X |
- |
- |
||
Sloe Gin |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Spirit Whisky |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
X |
- |
- |
||
Straight Bourbon Whisky |
D |
- |
- |
- |
PRODUCT OF U.S. ONLY |
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Straight Corn Whisky |
D |
- |
- |
- |
|
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Straight Malt Whisky |
D |
- |
- |
- |
|
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Straight Rye Malt Whisky |
D |
- |
- |
- |
|
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Straight Rye Whisky |
D |
- |
- |
- |
|
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Straight Whisky |
D |
- |
- |
- |
|
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Substandard Brandy |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
X |
- |
- |
||
Tequila |
D |
- |
- |
- |
PRODUCT OF MEXICO ONLY |
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Triple Sec |
D |
- |
- |
X |
|
I |
- |
X |
- |
||
Vodka |
D |
- |
- |
- |
|
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Wheat Whisky |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
* Formulas/Pre-import letter |
I |
- |
X* |
- |
||
Whisky |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
* Formulas/Pre-import letter required only if harmless coloring, flavoring, or blending materials are added, other than the follow ing: |
I |
- |
X* |
- |
||
Whisky Distilled From Bourbon Mash |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
PRODUCT OF U.S. ONLY |
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Whisky Distilled From Malt Mash |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
PRODUCT OF U.S. ONLY |
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Whisky Distilled From Rye Malt Mash |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
PRODUCT OF U.S. ONLY |
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Whisky Distilled From Rye Mash |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
PRODUCT OF U.S. ONLY |
I |
- |
- |
- |
||
Whisky Distilled From Wheat Mash |
D |
- |
- |
X* |
PRODUCT OF U.S. ONLY |
I |
- |
- |
- |
TTB G: 2016-3
OPR: ALFD
Last updated: September 29, 2016
Page last updated: September 29, 2016
Page last updated: September 29, 2016
Maintained by: Alcohol Labeling and Formulation Division