CBP Quality Assurance & Compliance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under TTB regulations, what is the maximum entry proof at which new distillate can enter a bourbon aging barrel?
- 125 proof (Correct answer)
- 140 proof
- 110 proof
- 160 proof
Correct answer: 125 proof
Federal law requires that bourbon must enter the barrel at no more than 125 proof (62.5% ABV).
Question 2: A QA technician finds a barrel with visible mold on the exterior stave. What is the FIRST action to take?
- Quarantine the barrel and notify QA management (Correct answer)
- Immediately dump the barrel contents
- Sand the stave and return it to the rickhouse
- File an emergency TTB report
Correct answer: Quarantine the barrel and notify QA management
Quarantine prevents potential cross-contamination while management evaluates whether the spirit inside is affected.
Question 3: Which federal form must a distillery submit to the TTB to report monthly production, storage, and processing activity?
- TTB F 5110.40 (Correct answer)
- TTB F 5100.24
- TTB F 5110.56
- TTB F 5130.26
Correct answer: TTB F 5110.40
TTB F 5110.40 is the Operations Report for Distilled Spirits Plants, filed monthly to document production and storage.
Question 4: What does the term 'in-process quality control' refer to in bourbon production?
- Testing and monitoring at critical points during production before the product is finished (Correct answer)
- Final sensory evaluation before bottling
- Laboratory analysis of finished goods only
- Annual compliance audit by a third party
Correct answer: Testing and monitoring at critical points during production before the product is finished
In-process QC involves checks at multiple stages—mash pH, fermentation brix, distillate proof—to catch issues before they compound.
Question 5: Which type of new charred oak container is explicitly required by law for bourbon aging?
- New charred oak barrels (Correct answer)
- Used bourbon barrels
- New uncharred oak barrels
- Any oak container regardless of prior use
Correct answer: New charred oak barrels
Federal standards of identity mandate that straight bourbon be aged in new, charred oak containers.
Question 6: A bourbon batch tests at 158 proof coming off the still. What must the distiller do before barreling?
- Dilute to 125 proof or below with water before filling the barrel (Correct answer)
- Age the high-proof spirit in a holding tank until proof naturally drops
- Document the overage and proceed — entry proof limits only apply to bourbon label claims
- Redistill to lower the proof
Correct answer: Dilute to 125 proof or below with water before filling the barrel
The legal entry proof ceiling of 125 must be met by adding water before the distillate enters the aging barrel.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of maintaining a Chain of Custody log for barrel samples sent to a third-party lab?
- To ensure sample integrity and prevent tampering or mislabeling (Correct answer)
- To satisfy state excise tax requirements
- To fulfill OSHA record-keeping mandates
- To track barrel movement within the rickhouse
Correct answer: To ensure sample integrity and prevent tampering or mislabeling
A Chain of Custody log documents who handled the sample at each step, protecting the validity of analytical results.
CBP Quality Assurance & Compliance 2
Under TTB regulations, what is the maximum entry proof at which new distillate can enter a bourbon aging barrel?