Guidance

Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme technical guidance

Find out about producing or marketing spirit drinks with a protected Geographical Indication if you're a UK commercial distiller.

• From: HM Revenue & Customs
• Published: 1 October 2014
• Last updated: 5 March 2021
  Show all updates

  1. 5 March 2021

     The Irish Whiskey Technical File has been updated to include characteristics of Irish Whiskey compared to other whiskies.

  2. 17 February 2021

     The Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme technical guidance has been updated.

  3. 18 January 2021

     This attachments have been updated because the Brexit transition period has ended.

  4. 24 February 2020

     The Irish whiskey, Irish cream and Irish poteen technical guidance has been updated to include a further check to the Scheme of Revenue Verification Checks covering the origin of ingredients used in Irish poteen.

  5. 14 June 2019

     The Scotch Whisky technical guidance has been updated following amendments to the Scotch Whisky Technical File in June 2019.

  6. 8 May 2018

     The Scotch Whisky technical guidance has been updated with changes to labelling and to clarify the movement of Scotch Whisky to food producers.

  7. 6 November 2017

     The Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme technical guidance for Somerset Cider Brandy has been added to the page.

  8. 10 December 2015

     The Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme Technical Guidance: Irish whiskey, Irish cream and Irish poteen verification attachment has been added to the page.

  9. 1 October 2014

     First published.

This publication was withdrawn on 30 November 2023

This page has been withdrawn because it’s out of date. Find out about the Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme including what you need to do before production and after registration.

Documents

Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme technical guidance: Scotch whisky verification

ODT, 1.7 MB

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Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme technical guidance on Irish whiskey, Irish cream and Irish poteen verification

ODT, 1.76 MB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

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Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme technical guidance: Somerset Cider Brandy

PDF, 1.06 MB, 33 pages

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Details

You must apply to HMRC for verification under the Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme if you manufacture a Geographical Indication spirit drink in the UK.