Proofing Tutorial

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Distilled Spirits Proofing Processes

Distilled spirits plant proprietors are required to determine taxes owed on spirits removed from their bonded premises. To do this, proprietors will need to "gauge" the spirits—that is, determine the quantity and proof of the spirits.

If you are a distilled spirits plant proprietor, it is important that you know how to proof your spirits correctly. We’ve listed below some resources to help guide you through the proofing process, including our TTB Proofing Video Series.

TTB Proofing Resources

• Introduction to Proofing Video Series (4:09)

  

  TTB's Beverage Alcohol Laboratory offers a proofing video series to walk you through several frequently used procedures to proof distilled spirits correctly.

• Part 1 - Proofing Spirits with a Hydrometer (4:29)

  

  Learn how to proof spirits using a hydrometer; this technique is cost effective and accurate.

• Part 2 - Proofing Spirits with a Densitometer (3:19)

  

  Learn how to proof spirits using a densitometer; this technique is fast and can be automated.

• Part 3 - Distilling Spirits for Proofing (4:54)

  

  High solid spirits must be distilled before proofing. Learn how to distill samples using a small laboratory distillation unit.

• Part 4 - Determining Proof Obscuration by Evaporation (3:08)

  

  Dissolved solids may obscure the true proof of a sample. Learn how to determine proof obscuration using the evaporation method.