Federal Tax Strip Information

Tax strips are the blue (if exported), green or red strips that go up the side of the neck and over the cap and will either say U.S. Internal Revenue or Bureau of ATF.

If it says ATF on the strip then your bottle is from 1977 – 1985. If it mentions the IRS then it’s pre-1977.

We can break it down to smaller chunks of time thanks to tax strip changes over the years.

1934-1944: Weight/Proof Marks on ends, no “Series” near Eagle’s feet. Upper-left edge reads “US Internal Revenue”

1945-1972: Words “Series” and “111″/”112″ added near Eagles feet. Upper-left edge reads “US Internal Revenue”

1973-1976: Volume markings removed from ends of Tax Strip. Upper-left edge reads “US Internal Revenue”

1977-1983: No Volume markings. No “Series” or “111″/”112″ near Eagle’s feet. Upper-left edge reads “Bureau of ATF”

1982 the words “Tax Paid” and “Distilled Spirits” were removed and replaced with simply “Distilled” and “Spirits” on the bottom of the strips.

Green Bottled in Bond strips were discontinued starting December 1, 1982.”

All stopped in 1985