Setup: Create a Batch Type (Read Time: 6 mins)

For a video on creating new Batch Types, review the following resource: Setup: Create New Batch Type (Video).

Jump to your desired article section by following these links:

1. What is a Batch Type? Why Does DISTILL x 5 have them?
2. Minimize or Maximize?
3. Create/Add A New Batch Type
4. Editing Batch Types
5. Setup: Example Batch Type Configurations (Read Time: 3 minutes)

What is a Batch Type? Why Does DISTILL x 5 have them?

Simply put, Batch Types are the bridge between your spirit batches and their corresponding TTB Reporting categories. You might be looking at a barrel of Bourbon, but from a reporting standpoint, that product is considered "Domestic Whiskey Distilled Under 160 Proof". Batch Types allow you to call your liquid by human readable names like "House Bourbon" and "Sourced Bourbon", while still reporting under the correct categories.

Minimize or Maximize?

Let's say you have your own house-made Bourbon, and you also source Bourbon from two different distilleries. The Minimalist approach involves marking all of those bourbon batches with a single "Bourbon" Batch Type. The advantage here is that you minimize the number of different Batch Types in your system.

The Maximalist approach involves creating additional Batch Types to differentiate between Bourbons in your reports & system. You might go all-out and create "House Bourbon", "Indiana Bourbon" and "Kentucky Bourbon" Batch Types to correspond to the three different sources. You could also split the difference and use "House Bourbon" and "Sourced Bourbon". The advantage to this approach is that you maintain more granular detail on your specific batches. You can also use multiple Batch Types to differentiate between mash bills or variants of a particular spirit, for example "21Rye Bourbon" and "36Rye Bourbon". Successful DISTILL x 5 users usually lean towards the Maximalist strategy, but both options are valid.

Create/Add A New Batch Type

• Navigate to Operations > Setup

• Click Setup Actions > Add Batch Type

• Fill out the Add Batch Type form from top to bottom using the following as a guide: 
  • Name - Human readable name for the liquid (e.g. "House Bourbon", "Virgin Islands Rum, Unaged", "Grape Wine"). 
  • Description - Optional field for any internal notes regarding a particular Batch Type. 
  • Abbreviation (Prefix Code) - Choose an abbreviation for your Batch Type - something that's easily identifiable. DISTILL x 5 will use the abbreviation in circumstances where there isn't enough room to display the full Batch Type name. You might use "VOD" for Vodka, or "Marg" for a Margarita RTD. 
  • Produced By Another DSP - Check this box if you are holding or barreling spirit that was produced by another DSP. This selection ensures that the DSP number of the original producer is disclosed on your barrel head cards, per 27 CFR 19.484.
  • Spirit Type - Select the type ("Kind") of spirit from the drop-down menu that aligns closest to the type of spirit you're producing. Spirit Type/Kind is only used on barrel head cards. Your Spirit Type/Kind selection does not drive any TTB Reporting categories!
    
    

• Production

  • You only need to enable "Production" for Batch Types that you produce using your Still (whether from a fermented mash, or beer/wine distillation, or redistillation of spirits). When building Batch Types for Sourced spirits, you would enable Production only if intending to redistill.
     
  • Reporting Category defines how the spirit/liquid will be reported on the Monthly Report of Production Operations. These categories are largely self-explanatory, but you should be aware that the "Other" category should only be used if TTB directs you to do so. If you can't find a good fit for your product among the options offered here, choose "Alcohol/Spirits < 190", which is the catchall category.
     
    • Check the Production Stages in which your Batch Type may be used:
      • Mash/Cook: Enable for spirits produced from grains requiring a mash/cook phase.
      • Fermentation: Enable for spirits produced from a fermentation that you carry out.
      • Post-Ferm Holding: Enable for Beer or Wine that you are sourcing from a Brewery or Winery for the purpose of distillation. See also: Operations: Configure Dx5 to Receive Beer, Wine or Cider from Brewery or Winery for Distillation (Read Time: 6 mins)
      • Distillation: Enable for any liquid that will be charged into your still(s).
      • Bulk Production: Enable for any distillate/spirit that will be collected from your still(s).
        • Selecting Bulk Production in U.S.-based systems will display additional options:
          • Spirit 190º or More - This check box maps directly to the Production Report, Part II. Check this box only if this Batch Type's Reporting Category is Alcohol and Spirits 190º or More. Select the Kind of Material used in the spirit's production.
          • Is Whiskey? - This check box maps directly to the Production Report, Part III. Check this box only if this Batch Type's Reporting Category is Whiskey (160º and Under) or Whiskey (Over 160º). Select the Kind of Whiskey and indicate whether the Whiskey is designated to be deposited into New Cooperage, Used Cooperage or Tanks.
          • Is Brandy? - This check box maps directly to the Production Report, Part IV. Check this box only if this Batch Type's Reporting Category is Brandy (170º and Under) or Brandy (Over 170º). 
            
            

• Storage

  • You only need to enable "Storage" for Batch Types that you intend to hold in your Storage account. As a rule, the Storage account is used for spirits that you are holding for a longer period of time (e.g. at least a month) and without specific plans for further processing.
    
    
  • Reporting Category defines how the spirit/liquid will be reported on the Monthly Report of Storage Operations. These categories are largely self-explanatory, but you should be aware that the "Other" category should only be used if TTB directs you to do so. If you can't find a good fit for your product among the options offered here, choose "Alcohol/Spirits < 190", which is the catchall category. If your spirit is Imported, be sure to select the correct Imported Storage Report under "Report As".
    • Note that Production and Storage use the same list of reporting categories! If you have both Storage and Production enabled for a Batch Type, they should have the same Reporting Category defined in each.
  • You must always check "Bulk Storage" when using the Storage account. Additionally, choose "Storage Barrels" for products that you plan to barrel.
  • If you are adding Caramel (aka Burnt Sugar) to Rum or Brandy in the barrel, check the "Burnt Sugar Added" box to ensure that these Barrel Head Cards are marked appropriate. Similarly, if you are adding Oak Chips to any barreled spirit, mark the Batch Type appropriately to ensure your Barrel Head Cards include the required markings. See 27 CFR 19.331. 

• •  

• Processing

  • • Most Batch Types should be enabled in "Processing". If you ever want to blend or bottle your spirit, you have to carry out those operations in the Processing account.
      
      
    • Reporting Category defines how the spirit/liquid will be reported on the Monthly Report of Processing Operations. These categories are largely self-explanatory, but you should be aware that the "Other" category should only be used if TTB directs you to do so. If you can't find a good fit for your product among the options offered here, choose "Cordials/Liqueurs/Specialties", which is the catchall category. 
      
      • Note that Processing Reporting Categories are different from those used in Production & Storage!
    • You must always check "Bulk Processing" when using the Processing account.
    • Additionally, choose "Processing Barrels" for products that you plan to barrel in the Processing account. This option only appears if you have turned on "Barrels in Processing" in your System Settings.
    • Check the "Is Wine" box for Batch Types representing Wine that you receive from a Bonded Winery. This is primarily used when blending Wine into a spirits product in Processing.
    • If you intend to bottle this spirit, select the Bottling stage and attach at least one Finished Product to your Batch Type. Depending on the origin and handling of your product, you may also need to enable some additional attributes, which flow through to Processing Pt IV:
      • • Bottled In Bond - if your bottled spirit was produced in compliance with the regulations defined in the 27 CFR 5.88 regarding Bottled In Bond label statements, select this option. (These requirements include: aged 4+ years, distilled in a single season by a single distiller, 100 proof, no additions besides pure water)
        • Imported Spirit - if you are "Bottling as Imported" and your COLA states "Bottled For <Foreign Distillery>", choose this option to report the bottlings appropriately. This applies to spirit which was imported and then bottled (with or without the sole addition of pure water). If you perform a Processing operation on the imported spirit, then it is no longer considered "Bottling as Imported" - that operation renders it a Domestic product. 

Editing Batch Types

Batch Types may be edited after creation. However, we recommend avoiding Batch Type edits once you have used a Batch Type in any transactions. In general, we advise you to create new Batch Types and "deactivate" old ones, rather than editing existing Batch Types. This ensures that you do not inadvertently change the reporting category of spirit and retroactively alter your TTB Reports. When editing a Batch Type, certain options may be unavailable if there is an active Batch associated with it. If you are unable to edit a certain Batch Type attribute, please contact the Support team for assistance.

Example Batch Types

For examples, see: Setup: Example Batch Type Configurations (Read Time: 3 minutes)