What a UPC like 087692300533 tells you about a bottle

087692300533 is a 12-digit UPC, the barcode number printed under the bars on a bottle, can or box. It identifies one specific product, and the quickest way to find it at CBC Liquors in Westford is to search the site, or browse the brand page if you know the maker, and to check our allocated items page if the bottle is a limited release.

What is 087692300533?

It is a UPC-A code, the 12-digit barcode number used on retail products across North America. The digits break down in a fixed pattern: one leading number-system digit (0), a five-digit company prefix (87692), a five-digit item number (30053), and a final check digit (3).

The check digit is there to catch scanning and typing mistakes. Run the standard arithmetic on this number and the last digit comes out correct, so it is a well-formed code and not a typo.

A UPC alone does not spell out the product name. The number is a key that points to a record in a database, so the same code always means the same item, but you need a lookup to turn it into a name. The label on the package is the fastest check: the brand, style and size printed there should match what you are hunting.

How do you find the product behind a UPC?

Start with the package itself. If you have the bottle or can, the maker's name and the product name are printed near the barcode. If you only have the number from a receipt, a photo or a list, a general barcode lookup site will usually return the name and size.

Once you have the name, use the site search on our website and type it in. Searching by name works better than searching by number, because shoppers and stores describe products with names, sizes and styles.

If the label says Sam Adams, the Sam Adams brand page lists the Sam Adams products we carry, and you can scan it for the style you want. The same approach works for any maker with a brand page, such as Jacks Abby or Night Shift.

Why do two bottles of the same drink have different codes?

Because a UPC identifies the exact product as packaged, not just the drink. A single beer can carry one code, a four-pack another, a twelve-pack another, and a mixed pack yet another. Wine and spirits work the same way, with a different code for each bottle size.

Seasonal and limited releases often get their own codes too, which is useful when you are trying to pin down one particular release rather than the maker's regular lineup. The vintage of a wine can also change the code, though not always, since some producers reuse a code from year to year.

So if a search for a code turns up a different pack size than you expected, that is normal. Check the size and style in the product name before you rely on it.

Can you track down a rare or limited bottle with a UPC?

A UPC helps you confirm you are asking about the right item, which matters most with rare bottles, where near-identical labels are common. A single barrel pick, a different proof or a different release year can look almost the same on a shelf.

Rare bottles are often allocated, which in general means the maker or distributor releases them in small amounts to stores instead of selling freely to anyone who orders. That is why a bottle can be easy to read about and hard to find.

Our allocated items page is the place to look for limited releases. If you are chasing a particular bottle, bring the name, size and, if you have it, the barcode number, so we are all talking about the same product.

Where does CBC Liquors look for hard-to-find bottles?

We stock 4,585 products from 1,883 brands, spread across 108 categories with something in stock, so there is a lot to browse before you assume something is out of reach. Some of the harder-to-find styles sit in categories like bourbon, rye, scotch and speciality beer.

For beer, the craft makers we carry most are worth checking by name. Other Half, Toppling Goliath, Finback and Mast Landing each have a brand page, and the New England IPA category groups the hazy styles together.

If you want something that is not on the site, the kegs and special order request page is where you can send a request. We cannot promise any particular bottle will be available, but a clear request with the exact name and size gives us what we need to look into it.

How do you check what is in stock right now?

Stock changes through the day, so the website is the best first stop. Search the product name, or browse the category and the brand page, and you will see what is listed as in stock.

A few items we have in stock right now give you a sense of the everyday range: Tito's Vodka, Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey, 99 Watermelons Schnapps, MAINE BEER CO Lunch and Lawsons Sip Of Sunshine.

If you cannot find what you are after, come by or call during store hours. We are at 142 Littleton Rd in Westford, open Sunday 10 AM to 8 PM, Monday to Thursday 10 AM to 9 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10 AM to 10 PM.

Can you get a bottle picked up, delivered or shipped?

Yes, we offer pickup, delivery and shipping besides walking in. Pickup hours match store hours. Delivery hours run Sunday 10 AM to 7:30 PM, Monday to Thursday 10 AM to 8:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10 AM to 9:30 PM.

Our delivery pages cover Chelmsford, Acton, Littleton, Lowell, Billerica and other nearby towns, and the full list is on the delivery areas page. Our shipping policy explains how shipping works.

As with any alcohol order, you need to be 21 or older to buy, and an ID check applies when an order is picked up or delivered.

What should you have ready when you ask us about a bottle?

The more exact the details, the faster we can help. The product name as printed on the label is the most useful thing, followed by the size, the style or release name, and the vintage or age statement if there is one.

If you have the barcode number, add it. It helps confirm the pack size and release, and it is especially handy when you are working from a photo or a friend's recommendation.

A photo of the front label and the barcode on your phone covers all of this in one go, and you can show it at the counter.