"Liquor Classification" of Japanese bottles

1.Background

It used to be mandatory that all alcoholic drinks were classified as "Class-Special", "Class-1" or "Class-2" by the Liquor Tax Law in Japan, until it was abolished in 1990. ( I have not checked it out when this regulation started... Bottles produced in early 1970's do not have this notation, so I suppose it started in late 1970's or 1980's.)
Tax was charged depending on this classification respectively, like "800 yen for a Class-S bottle, 500 yen for a Class-1 bottle and 200 yen for a Class-2 bottle" etc.(the yen amont here is not real). The classication was determined by the alcohol percentage, and "Class-S" had higher percentage, while "Class-2" had the lowest. Typically, "Class-S" whisky contained 43%, "Class-1" 40% and "Class-2" 39%.

2.Classification Examples

For example I just picked up some from Suntory items:

<Class-S>

• "Suntory Royal"
• "Suntory Special Reserve"

<Class-1>

• "Suntory Rawhide"

<Class-2>

• "Suntory Red"

Several items sold over the "regulation change in 1990" have 2 types of labels: one with the classification notation, and another without. This is what I stated as "HI-Nikka with "Class-2" notation".

Please remember that this was the domestic taxation rule, and therefore this classification was no way stated in English on labels, but only in Japanese.

3.Notation on Labels

Here I show what the notation on the labels looks like (in Japanese Characters) : This law was of course applied to the imported liquors as well, so all Scotches and Bourbons imported before 1990 have this notation on the "Importer's Label", or sometimes on the main label.

	"whisky" (no classification) bottles with this notation were produced after 1990 (or before mid 70's)
	"whisky class-S" bottles with this notation were produced between mid 1970's and 1990
	"whisky class-1" bottles with this notation were produced between mid 1970's and 1990
	"whisky class-2" bottles with this notation were produced between mid 1970's and 1990