Unlocking the History Hidden in Your Liquor Cabinet.
Have you ever stumbled upon an old bottle of bourbon in your grandpa’s attic, or picked up a dusty bottle of Scotch at an estate sale and wondered, “When exactly was this bottled?”
You’ve come to the right place. Dating Old Whiskey Bottles is the ultimate community-driven guide to decoding the clues, stamps, labels, and glass markings that reveal the true age of your whiskey.
How to Date Your Bottle: The Quick Guide
Before you dive into our deep-dive archives, check for these five common clues on your bottle:
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The Federal Law Warning: If your bottle has the words “Federal Law Forbids Sale or Re-use of this Bottle” embossed in the glass, it was manufactured between 1935 and 1964.
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Tax Stamps: Check the paper strip over the cap. Red stamps were phased out in 1986, while green stamps often mean “Bottled-in-Bond.” Starting in 1897, Bottled-in-Bond stamps will have the date the whiskey was “laid down” and the date it was bottled making the dating process a cinch. The design and text of tax stamps changed significantly across the decades.
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The Bottom of the Bottle: Flip it over! Glass manufacturers often embossed a two-digit year code right on the base (e.g.,
76for 1976). -
Volume Measurements: Did you find ounces (
4/5 QUART) or milliliters (750ml)? The US transition to the metric system happened between 1976 and 1980. -
UPC Barcodes: If your bottle has a barcode, it was almost certainly bottled after 1973 (and became standard by the late 1970s/early 1980s).
Quick Reference Era Guide
| Feature | Estimated Era | What it Means |
| No Barcode & Ounce/Quart Measurements | Pre-1976 | Vintage / Dustie |
| “Federal Law Forbids…” Glass Embossing | 1935 – 1964 | Golden Era / Post-Prohibition |
| 750ml / Metric Measurement | 1980 – Present | Modern Era |
| Tax Stamp Present | Pre-1985 | Highly collectible era |
Tools & Resources
⚠️ A Quick Note on Safety: If you are lucky enough to find a truly ancient bottle, check the seal! Damaged corks or lead foil caps require careful handling. Never drink from a bottle if the seal has been compromised or looks contaminated.
Submit Your Bottle for Identification
Can’t crack the code? Upload clear photos of the front label, back label, cap/seal, and the bottom of the glass to our Whiskey Bottle Evaluation Page, and let me have a look.