Liquor Laboratory publishes reference information about spirits sold in the United States. This page explains how we work, what we will and will not do, and how to correct us.
What we publish
We report what is verifiable: alcohol content as printed on current labels, legal categories under the relevant standards of identity, appellation and designation rules, and the practical consequences of those facts for drinking and mixing.
Where a claim is contested, we say so. Where regulations have changed, we date the change. Where we are uncertain, we write that we are uncertain rather than rounding it into confidence.
Our sourcing rules
Alcohol content. Every ABV and proof figure we publish is the standard US bottling strength as printed on the current label. Where retailer listings conflict with the label, we treat the label as authoritative and note the discrepancy.
Regulations. We cite the governing instrument — US federal standards of identity under 27 CFR Part 5, Mexican NOM standards for tequila and mezcal, and BNIC regulation for cognac — rather than paraphrasing secondary coverage.
Prices. We do not publish specific prices. Spirits move through a state-regulated three-tier distribution system and the same bottle legitimately costs different amounts in different states. We publish indicative bands and label them as such.
Ratings. We do not assign scores or star ratings. We explain what a bottle is for and what it is not for.
What we will not do
We do not accept payment for coverage, placement, or a favourable assessment.
We do not invent prices, ratings, or rankings. Any page that would require us to do so is not published.
We do not reproduce marketing claims as fact. Where a brand’s own description conflicts with its label or the governing regulation, we report the discrepancy.
Authorship
Lydia Martin is the editorial byline of Liquor Laboratory. It represents the publication’s editorial voice rather than a single individual, and articles published under it are researched, written and edited by our editorial team.
Liquor Laboratory is published by Victory Holdings, Inc, Reno NV. Editorial decisions are made independently of any commercial relationship.
Where an article has been reviewed by an outside expert, that person is named at the foot of the page with their credentials.
Affiliate disclosure
Links on Liquor Laboratory do not earn commission. We may mention products, retailers, or brands for editorial clarity, but those links are not affiliate links and we are not paid when you click them or buy anything. Commercial arrangements do not influence our assessments.
Corrections
We correct errors. If a figure on this site conflicts with a bottle in your hand, the bottle is probably right — tell us and we will check it.
Corrections are made on the page, with a dated note explaining what changed. We do not quietly edit and re-date.
Contact: https://liquorlaboratory.com/get-in-touch/
Updates
Articles are reviewed at least annually. We change the “Updated” date only when the content has actually changed. A date on this site means something happened.