Ever wondered how to identify the date of your vintage whiskey bottle? There are several methods: Tax Strips (may include import stamps), Glass Dates, Laser Codes:
Tax Strips
For most whiskeys bottled prior to 1985, a tax strip was added over the top of the cap. Some US bottles will have two strips - a red Federal one over the cap top and a state tax stamp on the side. Bottled-in-Bond strips are green. The design of the tax strip will help you find the range of years in which it was bottled and stamped:
U.S. Internal Revenue Service (1934 - 1977)
1934 - 1944 (Denominated / Non-Series)
1944 - 1960 (Denominated / Series 111)
1961 - 1977 (Non-denominated / Series 112)
Bureau of ATF (1977 - 1985)
1977 - 1982 (Non-denominated / Series 112)
1983 - 1985 (Non-denominated / Non-series)
Bottled-in-Bond (decorative strip used 1982 and prior / shows distillation and bottling years / all 100 proof)
Import Stamps
Some strips you see could be import stamps. These were used when the bottle was sent overseas and a country had its own excise tax to be paid.
Here are links to some of the vintage “dusty” bottles Take Your Pick Liquors has in stock:
Glass Dates
On the bottom of many glass bottles, typically 1970’s and forward, you will find a two-digit embossed number which corresponds to the ending two digits of the year. For instance, 77 would be 1977; 65 would be 1965.
Laser Codes
Laser codes began being used in the late 1970’s - early 1980’s. These codes can include a good bit of information: location, bottling line, date, time bottle was filled, etc. Logos, barcodes, serial and lot numbers may show up too.
Most laser codes are printed on the back of a bottle below the label or foil enclosure. Shining a flashlight through the opposite of the bottle for codes etched in glass can help you see the code more easily.
How to Date Wild Turkey Bottles
Date coding is era-specific and can be determined by knowing the translation:
Year(s) = approximate release date(s)
Translation = what the sequence means
-
Y = year
-
DDD or DD = exact day of that year (out of 365 days)
-
TTTT = military time bottle was filled
Example = example of the interpretation
Year: 1992
Translation: L1YDDD
Example: L12158 = June 7, 1992 (2 = 1992; June 7 = 158th day of that year)
(Printed on back label or foil enclosure)
Years: 1992-1998
Translation: L-1Y-DDD
Example: L-15-158 = June 7, 1995 (5 = 1995; June 7 = 158th day of that year)
(Printed on back label or foil enclosure)
Years: 1992-1999
Translation: MM/DD/YY
Example: 06/07/1994 = June 7, 1994
(Printed on back label or foil enclosure)
Years: 1999-2006
Translation: L???Y???
Example: L0611054 = 2001 (5th number in sequence = the year, 2001)
(Printed on back label or foil enclosure)
Year: 2006
Translation: LYDDDN???
Example: L6229NU7A = August 17, 2006 (2nd number in sequence = year 2006; 3rd-5th numbers in sequence = August 17, the 229th day of that year)
(Laser coded below back label near base)
Years: 2007-2013
Translation: LYDDDF?TTTT
Example: L9132FH 1253 = 12:53 PM on May 12, 2009 (2nd number in sequence = year 2009; 3rd-5th numbers in sequence = May 12, the 132th day of that year; last 4 numbers = military time bottle filled 12:53 p.m.)
(Laser coded below back label near base)
Years: 2013-current
Translation: LL/YMDDTTTT
Example: LL/DF021000 = 10:00 AM on June 2, 2015
(Laser coded below back label near base)
How to Date Pappy Van Winkle Bottles 2007 - Present
Pre-2012: K1280811:37
Example: K = the bottling line, 128 = the 128th day of the year bottled, 08 = the year bottled, 11:37AM = military time bottled filled. Date = May 7, 2008
2012 and after: B1412811:37K
Example: B = Buffalo Trace, 14 = the year bottled, 128 = the 128th day of the year bottled, 11:37AM = the time bottled in military time, K = the bottling line. Date = May 8, 2014
Buffalo Trace did not use date codes prior to 2007, so it’s more difficult to date them. You can see the timeline for more clues.