whiskey bottle date

[tonyc]

Does anyone know when percent mark were brought in on whiskey bottles. I have an old dimple bottle with no marks and i'm trying to find a date it was produced. Thanks . TC.

[DTCwordfan]

1980 before that it was the Proof system (2 times the % of alcohol - the proof being the point that the liquid burnt and could set off gunpowder...) 162 years on that system I believe

[heathfield]

US and UK proof calculations differed. In the US it was 2 times the ABV%, but in the UK it was 1.75 times the ABV%. Thus a spirit with 40% ABV would be rated at 80 proof in the US, but 70 proof in the UK. Not so long ago ago spirits, including your Haig Dimple, were commonly sold at 43% ABV, but this changed to where most are now 40% ABV. This was perhaps a move to reduce the level of alcohol by an amount that didn't affect the taste too much, but did reduce the tax paid per bottle.