Bottling Cask-Strength (Barrel Proof, Cask Proof, Single Barrel) Products (Read Time: 4 mins)

DISTILL x 5 supports the bottling of cask-strength products using the same functionality as any other bottling run. However, there are a few caveats. This article covers some of the considerations that are specific to Cask Strength products.

Finished Products

In DISTILL x 5, each Finished Product has a single, pre-defined Proof or ABV value. This value cannot be changed and must match the proof in the tank when you enter a bottling run.

Therefore, when working with Cask-Strength products, you will be required to create a unique Finished Product for each unique Bottling Proof/ABV. TTB requires label proof to be rounded to the nearest tenth of a proof degree - US Distilleries should heed this requirement. 

Here is the wrong way to do it:

Since both products round to 117.5 proof, that's the proof point that should have been entered, like so:

Batch Types

You'll need to associate your Cask-Strength Finished Products with Batch Types in order to bottle them. Navigate to Operations > Setup and choose the "Batch Types" tab. Pop open the chevron (down arrow) and select "Edit" on the Batch Type you're bottling:

Scroll down to "Processing" and enable "Bottling" (if not already enabled), then choose the appropriate Cask Strength Finished Product:

When going to bottle, your bulk product in the Processing account must match the Label Proof precisely (to the hundredths place), otherwise DISTILL x 5 will display an error message:

Deactivation

Both Finished Goods and Batch Types may be deactivated once they are no longer used in active transactions/inventory. Deactivating these items can simplify your system navigation.

CFR-Permitted Rounding On "Barrel Proof" 

For US distilleries that have a large number of "Barrel Proof" products, it's handy to know that regulations permit you to add water to reduce the proof of "Barrel Proof" products, as long as the reduction in proof is 2 proof degrees or less. In other words, you could take a barrel of Bourbon at 117.5 proof, add water to reduce it to 116.0 proof, and then bottle it with a "Barrel Proof" claim - legally.

Using this allowance, you can reduce the number of unique Finished Goods that you have to create and track in DISTILL x 5. This allowance can also be leveraged to allow you to pre-print labels with proof on them even if you only have a rough idea of the proof of the product to be bottled. 

(a) The term “barrel proof” or “cask strength” may be used to refer to distilled spirits stored in wood barrels only when the bottling proof is not more than two degrees lower than the proof of the spirits when the spirits are dumped from the barrels.

(b) The term “original proof,” “original barrel proof,” “original cask strength,” or “entry proof” may be used only if the distilled spirits were stored in wooden barrels and the proof of the spirits entered into the barrel and the proof of the bottled spirits are the same.

Citation: 27 CFR 5.87