January 26, 1968
United States
The decision protected the identity boundaries of bourbon, rye, straight, and related American types while creating a separate route for higher-proof whisky matured in used or uncharred new oak. It joined production technology, labeling, and consumer expectations in one regulatory compromise.
Resolved September 1, 2026 with the complete primary record: T.D. 6945, 33 Fed. Reg. 983–986. Treasury published the decision January 26, 1968; most amendments were staged for July 1, 1972 and did not apply to labeling spirits distilled before publication. Use 1968 for the decision/category-creation event and discuss implementation timing separately.
Treasury rejected proposals to loosen the traditional proof and cooperage rules for American whiskey types and instead published a distinct light-whisky standard for higher-proof domestic whisky aged in used or uncharred new oak.
Verified regulatory foundation
T.D. 6945 has been processed in full from Federal Register pages 983–986. The decision rejected proposals to relax the defining production limits for traditional American whiskey types and adopted a distinct light-whisky standard for higher-proof domestic whisky matured in used or uncharred new oak.
Publication boundary
The category decision was published January 26, 1968. Most amendments were staged for July 1, 1972, and the decision limited their application to spirits distilled after publication. Present 1968 as the regulatory decision; explain implementation timing separately.
Evidence chain
The event is connected to a Verified Claim, a verified primary-source excerpt, a Ready citation, and a Full Source Verified Treasury record.