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DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 343 — Real vs. Fake: Identifying Counterfeit Whisky & Wine Bottles
The global whisky and fine-wine market has exploded over the past two decades, and with it, the sophistication of counterfeit bottles. From forged luxury whiskies to fake Bordeaux and Burgundy, fraudulent bottles enter the market through estate sales, private collections, auctions, and online listings—often fooling even experienced collectors.
This guide provides the complete forensic workflow used by authenticators, auction houses, appraisers, and anti-fraud specialists to evaluate bottle glass, label printing, adhesives, closures, corks, capsules, fill levels, oxidation, serial numbers, tax strips, provenance, ink behavior, and known counterfeit tactics.
Inside, you’ll learn how professionals:
Evaluate bottle shape, mold seams, punt depth, and glass composition
Detect forged labels using print analysis, paper-fiber structure, and UV fluorescence
Identify refilled bottles through closure distortion, re-crimping, and cork inconsistencies
Examine cork branding, compression, staining, and natural oxidation behavior
Inspect capsule seams, foil weight, embossing, and tampering distortion
Analyze fill levels, evaporation patterns, meniscus behavior, and particulate clues
Verify serial numbers, excise tax strips, duty stamps, and bottling codes
Distinguish genuine adhesive aging from artificial staining and modern glues
Identify fake patina, smoke-aging, chemical darkening, and UV-yellowing tricks
Compare bottles to authentic references, archival catalogs, and brand-specific characteristics
Detect laser-printed labels, toner sheen, CMYK grids, and incorrect typography
Evaluate provenance: distributor labels, auction records, cellar inventories, import documents
Recognize high-risk brands (Macallan, Pappy Van Winkle, DRC, Yamazaki, etc.) and known counterfeit regions
Identify when laboratory testing—GC, ink dating, microscopy, XRF, carbon dating—is required
Whether you collect rare Scotch, bourbon, Japanese whisky, vintage Bordeaux, or investment-grade wines, Volume 343 provides the full scientific and forensic system needed to detect counterfeits and avoid costly mistakes.
Digital Download — PDF • 10 Pages • Instant Access
The global whisky and fine-wine market has exploded over the past two decades, and with it, the sophistication of counterfeit bottles. From forged luxury whiskies to fake Bordeaux and Burgundy, fraudulent bottles enter the market through estate sales, private collections, auctions, and online listings—often fooling even experienced collectors.
This guide provides the complete forensic workflow used by authenticators, auction houses, appraisers, and anti-fraud specialists to evaluate bottle glass, label printing, adhesives, closures, corks, capsules, fill levels, oxidation, serial numbers, tax strips, provenance, ink behavior, and known counterfeit tactics.
Inside, you’ll learn how professionals:
Evaluate bottle shape, mold seams, punt depth, and glass composition
Detect forged labels using print analysis, paper-fiber structure, and UV fluorescence
Identify refilled bottles through closure distortion, re-crimping, and cork inconsistencies
Examine cork branding, compression, staining, and natural oxidation behavior
Inspect capsule seams, foil weight, embossing, and tampering distortion
Analyze fill levels, evaporation patterns, meniscus behavior, and particulate clues
Verify serial numbers, excise tax strips, duty stamps, and bottling codes
Distinguish genuine adhesive aging from artificial staining and modern glues
Identify fake patina, smoke-aging, chemical darkening, and UV-yellowing tricks
Compare bottles to authentic references, archival catalogs, and brand-specific characteristics
Detect laser-printed labels, toner sheen, CMYK grids, and incorrect typography
Evaluate provenance: distributor labels, auction records, cellar inventories, import documents
Recognize high-risk brands (Macallan, Pappy Van Winkle, DRC, Yamazaki, etc.) and known counterfeit regions
Identify when laboratory testing—GC, ink dating, microscopy, XRF, carbon dating—is required
Whether you collect rare Scotch, bourbon, Japanese whisky, vintage Bordeaux, or investment-grade wines, Volume 343 provides the full scientific and forensic system needed to detect counterfeits and avoid costly mistakes.
Digital Download — PDF • 10 Pages • Instant Access