Export-only labeling requirements

[no proof]

Here in Japan we have an Old Ezra 101 15yr, currently available for about $80. When you compare the labels of the 15 year and the 7 or 12 year, details of the bottling / distillation are different.

 

15 year:

 

12 year:

 

In another thread, some people were suggesting that the 7 and 12 year bottles are HH juice. I would suspect the 15 year to be the same at this point despite what the label says.

 

I understand that producers are allowed to use an existing label until they run out, even if the details of the contents have changed. I suspect that that's what's going on here with the 15 year, but I'm also suspicious because this is an export only bottle, so perhaps nobody actually cares about the veracity of the label details.

 

Does anybody know whether an export-only bottle actually has to follow the same labeling rules as those sold in the states?

 

(Separately, has anyone tried a recent bottle of this OE 101 15yr?)

[Limegoldconvertible68]

Only thing I know is that Luxco owns Ezra Brooks. They also own David Nicholson and we all know about the BIB label fiasco. 

[amg]

Prior to Barton (and later Luxco) acquiring those brands, Ezra Brooks was distilled by Glenmore in Owensboro KY. Those plants shut down around 1991 I think, so unless Luxco managed to acquire some of that old stock and tank it for a decade I suspect it's another one of their labeling "mistakes".

[no proof]

Thanks for the replies. I wasn't aware of the current ownership of Old Ezra but these comments certainly make me even more suspicious of this bottle.

 

My ultimate question is whether there is any real control over what is put on labels (or in bottles for that matter) that don't sell in the states. I was wondering if the TTB regulations around definitions of bourbon, age statements, labeling rules, etc., are possibly not being enforced in that case.

 

[Richnimrod]

9 hours ago, no proof said:

Thanks for the replies. I wasn't aware of the current ownership of Old Ezra but these comments certainly make me even more suspicious of this bottle.

 

My ultimate question is whether there is any real control over what is put on labels (or in bottles for that matter) that don't sell in the states. I was wondering if the TTB regulations around definitions of bourbon, age statements, labeling rules, etc., are possibly not being enforced in that case.

 

I imagine you can assume that the industry is much more sefl-policing than the TTB is policing it.    I'm not sure the TTB does much of anything for their paychecks.

[tanstaafl2]

They routinely can't get labels for products sold in the US correct so I wouldn't hold out much hope for TTB oversight on export only products.