The information in this survey was collected from distillers and state alcohol control boards; it reflects the most current information available at the time of writing. Due to the hard work of motivated distillers, distillers guilds and state representatives these laws are continuing to be debated and modified to meet the needs and interests of all stakeholders in their locality. If any of these laws or details have changed, please contact eric@distilling.com with the correction or update.
| State | State Guild | 3 Tier or Control State | Limit on Maximum Production | License Fee | State Excise Tax | Tasting Rooms | Paid Tasting | Off-Premise Bottles Sales | On-Premise Spirit Sales | Self-Distribution | Allowed to Sell Non-Alcoholic Merchandise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AK | Distillers Guild of Alaska | 3 Tier | None | Biennial $1000 License, plus $200 Filing Fee | $12.80 | On-Site only, No age restriction for visitors & minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian | Free | Yes – 1 gal per person per day | Yes – Max of 3oz per person per day; Cocktails – Max of 3oz per person per day | Yes | Yes |
| AL | Alabama Craft Distillers Association | Control | None | License Fee: $500; Annual Filing Fee: $50 | $18.25 | On-Site & Satellite; No age restriction for visitors | Yes – Three 1/2oz samples per person per day | Yes – One 750ml bottle per person per day | Yes full pours and cocktails from spirits produced at the distillery | No | Yes |
| AR | No | 3 Tier | None | Annual Fee: $1000 | $7.73 | On-Site only; No age restriction for visitors | Yes | Yes | No full pours, No Cocktails | No | Yes |
| AZ | Arizona Craft Distillers Guild | 3 Tier | 20k Proof Gallons (P.G.)/year | Filing Fee: $1850; Annual Renewal Fee: $420 | $3.00 | On-Site & Satellite; No age restriction for visitors and minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian | Yes | Yes – 20% of total production can be sold on-site for off-site consumption | Yes full pours and cocktails | Yes – At least 80% of production sold via wholesale | Unknown |
| CA | California Artisanal Distillers Guild | 3 Tier | None for Manufactures. 100K gal/year exclusive of brandy production for craft distillers license. | Manufacturer or Craft Distiller License Original Fee: $100, Annual Renewal Fee: $567; Still License: Original Fee: $100, Annual Renewal Fee: $82 | $3.30 | On-Site only; No age restriction for visitors | Yes – Six 1/4oz samples or one 1oz sample. | Yes – 2.25 liter per day per person who has attended an instructional tasting conducted by the craft licensee. | Yes – one 1oz sample or in an attached restaurant; Cocktails – one 1oz of their alcohol w/ a non-alcoholic mixer. | No | Yes – Can operate a gift shop and an on-site restaurant that sells food. |
| CO | Colorado Distillers Guild | 3 Tier | None for Manufactures. 45k liters or 5k nine Liter cases for Distillers Pub license | New License: $600, Annual Liquor Manufacturer Fee: $300, Annual Wholesale Liquor Fee: $550 | $2.28 | On-Site & Satellite; No age restrictions for visitors | Yes | Yes | Yes full pours and cocktails from spirits produced at the distillery | Yes | Yes |
| CT | Connecticut Spirits Guild | 3 Tier | None | License Fee: $1950 | $5.40 | On-Site w/ additional tasting license; No age restriction for visitors | Free – 2oz pours | Yes | No full pours, No Cocktails | Yes | Yes |
| DC | No | 3 Tier | None | License Fee $6000 | $6.17 | On-Site only; No age restriction for visitors | Free – Three 1oz samples per person per day after 1pm | Yes | Yes full pours, Cocktails – w/ cocktail license | Yes | Yes |
| DE | No | 3 Tier | 750k P.G./year | Craft Distillery License: $1500, Biennial Production Fee: $100 on first 500 gal, 6¢/gal on next 5000 gal, 4.5¢/gal for next 10k gal, 3¢/gal for next 50k gal, 1.5¢/gal for next 100k gal, 0.75¢/gal for every gal over 165k gal | $4.50 | On-Site only; No age restriction for visitors, minor are not allowed within 6 feet of a bar | Yes | Yes – 1 case per person per day | Yes full pours and cocktails | No | Yes |
| FL | Florida Craft Distillers Guild | 3 Tier | 75k gal/year | Annual Fee: $4000 | $6.50 | On-Site only; No age restriction for visitors | Free – Can charge for tour | Yes – 6 bottles per brand per person per year | No full pours, No Cocktails | No | Yes |
| GA | Georgia Distillers Association | 3 Tier | None | License: $1000, Investigation Fee: $100 | $3.79 | On-Site only. Maximum on-site sales of five hundred 53 gallon barrels per year; No age restriction for visitors | Free – One ¼oz sample | Yes – 3 bottles per person per day | Yes full pours and cocktails from spirits produced at the distillery | No | Yes |
| HI – Hawaii County | No | 3 Tier | None for Manufacturer, 7500 Barrels (31 gal) for Craft Distiller | Manufacturer License: $640, Craft Distiller: $1000 | $5.98 | On-Site only; No age restriction for visitors | Yes | Yes | No full pours, No Cocktails | Yes – for Craft Distillers through wholesaler | Yes |
| HI – Honolulu County | No | 3 Tier | None for Manufacturer, 7500 Barrels (31 gal) for Craft Distiller | Manufacturer License: $1320 plus Gross Sales Fee up to $5k; Small Craft Producer: $1680 plus Gross Sales Fees up to $40k | $5.98 | On-Site only; No age restriction for visitors | Yes | Yes – If spirits are made from state grown agriculture | Yes full pours and cocktails | Yes | Yes |
| HI – Kauai County | No | 3 Tier | 7500 Barrels (31 gal) per fiscal year | Annual Fee: $900 | $5.98 | On-Site only; No age restriction for visitors | Yes | Yes | No full pours; Yes cocktails | Yes | Yes |
| HI – Maui County | No | 3 Tier | None for Manufactures. Small Craft Producer Pub license 7500 (31 gal) Barrels/year [232,500 gal/year] | Manufacturer Fee: $200, Small Craft Producer: $1000 | $5.98 | On-Site only; No age restriction for visitors | Yes | Yes | Yes full pours and cocktails w/ Small Craft Producer Pub License | Yes | Yes |
| IA | No | Control | 100k P.G./year for Native distilled spirits license; No Limit for Manufacture's License. | $500/year for Native Distillery (ND) License; $350/year for Manufacture's License. | $12.52 | On-Site only; No age restriction for visitors | Free – 2oz per person per day (ND) | Yes – 9 liters per person per day (ND) | Yes full pours and cocktails | No | Yes |
| ID | Idaho Distillers Association | Control | None | License: $100 | $10.98 | On-Site only; No age restriction for visitors | Free – Three ¼oz samples per person per day | Yes – but bottles must first be bought back from the state | No full pours, No Cocktails | No | Yes |
| IL | Illinois Craft Distillers Association | 3 Tier | 100k gal/year for Craft Distiller; No production limit for Distiller | Craft Distiller License: $2500: Distiller License: $5000 | $8.55 | On-Site only; No state wide age restriction for distillery visitors, though age restrictions can be applied by local jurisdictions | No – Three free ¼oz samples per person per day; Fixed priced quantity of liquor may accompany food. | Yes – Max of 2500 gal/year for Craft Distiller | Yes full pours - drink price must be proportional to the quantity of alcohol; Yes cocktails for Craft Distiller | No | Yes |
| IN | Indiana Distillers Guild | 3 Tier | None for manufacture license or artesian distiller's (AD) permit; Must hold manufacture license for 3 yeas before applying for artisan license | Annual Fee: $250 | $2.68 | On-Site – spirits must be poured by license bartender; Satellite (AD); No age restriction for visitors as tasting room bar has a rope or some physical barrier to block minors from accessing alcohol. | Yes – ¼oz samples (AD) | Yes – Max of 10k gal/year; Sunday Sales only if alcohol made at the distillery (AD) | Yes full pours and cocktails from spirits produced at the distillery (AD) | Yes (AD) | Yes (AD) |
| KS | No | 3 Tier | None for Manufacturers, 50k gal/year for Micro-Distillers | Manufactures License: $25k; Micro-Distillery Biennial Fee: $500 | $2.50 | On-Site only; No age restriction for visitors | Free | Yes | Yes full pours and cocktails | No | Unknown |
| KY | Kentucky Distillers' Association | 3 Tier | None for Class A license. 50k P.G./year for Class B license | Class A Annual Fee: $3090, Class B Annual Fee: $1000 | $7.74 | On-Site only; Can sell drinks at fairs and festivals without additional license; No age restriction for visitors and minors must be accompanied by a parent of guardian | Free – Max of 1.7oz per person per day; Can charge for tour | Yes – 4.5 liters per person per day | Yes full pours and cocktails w/ additional permit | No | Yes |
| LA | Louisiana Distillers Guild | 3 Tier | None for Manufacturer, 12k gallons for Micro-Distillery | Manufacturers License: $200 for less than 1000 case sales in state, $1000 for more than 1000 cases sold in state; Micro-Distillery License: $1000 plus fees in relation to gross sales. | $3.03 | On-Site only; No age restriction for visitors | Yes | Yes – No more than 1 case per person per 30 days | Yes full pours and cocktails | No | Yes |
| MA | Massachusetts Distillers Alliance | 3 Tier | None, though Farmer Distillery must use state grown agricultural product in spirits | Manufacturers License: $6000-10000 depending on sales; Farmer Distillery: $22-110/year depending on sales | $4.05 proposed increase to $6.07 | On-Site only; No age restriction for visitors | Yes | Yes | No full pours, No Cocktails | Yes | Yes |
| MD | Maryland Distillers Guild | 3 Tier | None for Class 1; Class 9 Limited Distillery 100k gal/year | Class 1 License: $2000; Class 9 License: $500 | $4.85 | On-Site only; No age restriction for visitors | Yes Class 1 – Four ½oz samples per person per day; Yes Class 9 – Three ½oz samples per person per day w/ Class D county license | Yes Class 1 – 3 bottles per person per visit, including Fairs/Farmers Markets; Yes Class 9 – Up to 15500 gal/year including Fairs/Farmers Markets | No full pours, No Full Cocktails | Yes: Class 1 Up to 27500 gal if the distillery produces less than 100k gal/year and has Class 8 Limited Distillery Wholesale License; | Yes |
| ME | Main Distiller's Guild | Control | 50k gal/year for Craft Distillers license | License: $100 plus $10 Filing Fee | $5.86 | On-Site & Satellite; No age restriction for visitors | Yes | Yes | Yes full pours and cocktails – Can only use spirits they produce. Optional to get a Class A Restaurant license, which allows full bar. | No | Yes |
| MI | Michigan Craft Distillers Association | Control | 60k Wine Gallons/year | Annual Fee: $100 | $11.97 | On-Site & Satellite; $100 per satellite location; No age restriction for visitors | Yes | Yes | Yes full pours and cocktails | No | Yes |
| MN | Minnesota Distillers' Guild | 3 Tier | Manufacturer up to 40k P.G./year; Manufacturer less than 20k P.G./year | Manufacturer up to 40k P.G./year Fee: $3000; Manufacturer less than 20k P.G./year Fee: $1000 plus $2000 Bond | $8.80 | On-Site only; No age restriction for visitors | Yes | No | No; Cocktails | No | Yes |
| MO | Missouri Craft Distillers Guild | 3 Tier | None | License: $450 | $2.00 | On-Site only; No age restriction for visitors | Yes – Five ¼oz samples per person per day | Yes | Yes full pours and cocktails – w/ a separate license | Yes – w/ a separate license to On-premise accounts | Yes |
| MS | No | Control | None | License: $4500 | $7.98 | On-Site only; No age restriction for visitors | Yes – Four ¼oz samples per person per day | No | No full pours, No Cocktails | No | Yes |
| MT | Montana Distiller's Guild | Control | None for Manufacturer; 25k gallons for Micro-Distillery | Annual Fee: $600 | $9.84 | On-Site only; No age restriction for visitors & tastings must be out of sight from minors | Yes – 2oz mini bottles bought back from the state at $12/case | Yes – 2 liters per person per day. State mark up paid after sale. | Yes full pours and cocktails | No | Yes |
| NC | North Carolina Distillers Association | Control | None | License: $300 | $14.66 | On-Site only, Can get spirituous liquor special event permit for off-site tasting events; No age restriction for visitors | Up to six free 1/4oz per person/day | Yes – 5 bottles per person per year marketed as North Carolina Tour Commemorative Spirits | No full pours, No Cocktails | No | Yes |
| ND | No | 3 Tier | 25k gal/year | Annual Fee: $100 | $4.66 | On-Site; Satellite – 20 days of off site tastings & sales for events like the state fair; No one under 21 allowed in a licensed distillery though minors can visit an attached licensed restaurant | Yes | Yes – 12 bottles per person per month | Yes full pours and cocktails | No | Yes |
| NE | No | 3 Tier | None for Manufacturer; Micro-Distillery Tier 1 100 Barrels/day, Tier 2 150 Barrels/day, Tier 3 200 Barrels/day, Tier 300 Barrels/day, Tier 5 400 Barrels/day, Tier 6 500 Barrels/day, Tier 7 500+ Barrels/day | Annual Fee: $1000; Micro-Distillery Operator's License: $250; Class C Retail License: $300; Class D Off Premise License: $200; Class I On Premise Consumption: $250 | $3.75 | On-Site; Satellite w/ separate permit; No state age restriction for visitors though a restriction may be applied by a local jurisdiction | Free – ½oz sample per person per day | Yes | Yes full pours and cocktails from spirits produced at the distillery | No | Yes |
| NH | No | Control | None | Manufacturer w/ domestic sales of more than 15k barrels/year: $1692; Manufacturer w/ domestic sales of less than 15k barrels/year: $1200 | On-Site only; No age restriction for visitors | Free – One ½oz sample per person per day | Yes – Max 3k case sales/year if the distillery produces a total of less than 5k cases/year | No full pours; Yes cocktails but must be free | No, but manufacturers selling less than 3k cases/year may distribute sample directly to on-premise and agency stores for tastings | Yes | |
| NJ | No | 3 Tier | 20k P.G./year | License: $938 | $5.50 | On-Site only; No age restriction for visitors | Free – Three free ½oz samples per person per day | Yes – 5 liters per person per day | Yes full pours and cocktails | Yes | Yes |
| NM | New Mexico Distiller's Guild | 3 Tier | 150k P.G./year | License: $3000 | $6.06 | On-Site; Satellite – 2 off site tasting rooms & Eligible for $35 pop-up permits for food festivals and other events; Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian 21 or older & may not sit at the bar | Yes – ¼oz samples | Yes – Can sell any NM made spirit | Yes full pours and cocktails | No | Yes |
| NV | Nevada Craft Distillers Association | 3 Tier | None, but max sales cap of 10k cases in NV, 20k cases in US and Unlimited sales internationally | Application Fee: $400, Licensee Fee: $250; Minimum $1000 Bond | $3.60 | On-Site only; No state wide age restriction for distillery visitors, though age restrictions can be applied by local jurisdictions | Free – Two 1oz samples per person per day | Yes – 2 bottles per person per month | Yes full pours and cocktails | No | Yes |
| NY | New York State Distillers Guild | 3 Tier | None for Manufacturers; 75k gal/year for Farm Distillers license which requires use of 75% NY grown agriculture | Class A Distiller (3 Year License) $50800 plus $25k Bond; Class D Farm Distiller (3 Year License): $937.60 | $6.44 | On-Site & Satellite; No age restrictions for visitors and minors must be accompanied by an adult. | Yes | Yes | Yes full pours and cocktails | No | Yes |
| OH | Ohio Distiller's Guild | Control | None for Class A3; 10k P.G./year for A3A license | Class A3 License: $3906; Class A3A License: $2-400 depending on production volume | $9.90 | No for Class A3; On-Site only for Class A3A; No age restriction for visitors | Yes – Must charge between 25¢-50¢ per sample up to four ¼oz pours | Yes – 2 bottles per person per day w/ retail sales license. Spirits must be bought back from the state and state collect 6% bottle sales tax | No full pours, No Cocktails | No | Yes |
| OK | No | 3 Tier | None | License Fee per Fiscal Year: $3125 | $5.56 | On-Site only; No one under 21 allowed in tasting room while tastings are going on | None | No | No full pours, No Cocktails | No | No |
| OR | Oregon Distillers Guild | Control | None | Annual Fee: $100 | $22.78 | On-Site; Up to 5 Satellite locations for on-premise consumption; No age restriction for visitors w/ a license that allows minors that are accompanied by a parent or guardian | Yes – Five ½oz samples per person per day | Yes – w/ retail license and must pay 30-40% of gross sales to Oregon Liquor Control Commission and no on-premise sales | Yes full pours and cocktails – w/ on premise sales license, but no bottle sales | No | Yes |
| PA | Pennsylvania Distillers Guild | Control | None for Distillery Licensees. 100k gal/year for Limited Distillery license | Distillery License: $5400; Limited Distillery License: $1500 | $7.27 | On-Site; Satellite – 2 satellite tasting rooms only for Limited Distillery license; No age restriction for visitors | Yes – Thee ½oz sample per person per day on-site or at a satellite tasting room | Yes | Yes full pours and cocktails for Limited Distillery license made from spirits produced at the distillery – w/ additional license | Yes – For Limited Distillery license | Yes |
| RI | No | 3 Tier | None for Manufacturers or Craft Distillers | Annual Fee for Manufacturers License: $3000; Biennial Craft Distillery License: $1500; Production Fees: $100 for first 500 gal, 66¢/gal on next 5000 gal, 4.5¢/gal for next 10k gal, 3¢/gal for next 50k gal, 1.5¢/gal for next 100k gal, 0.75¢/gal for every gal over 165k gal | $5.40 | On-Site only; No age restrictions for visitors | Yes – Charge for glass, spirits are free | Yes – One 375ml bottle per person per visit | No full pours, No Cocktails | Law Unclear | Yes |
| SC | South Carolina Craft Distillers Guild | 3 Tier | None for Manufacturers; 125k cases/year for Micro-Distillery License | Biennial Manufacturers Fee: $50000; Biennial Micro-Distillery Fee: $5000 | $5.42 | On-Site only; No visitors allowed under 21 | Free 3oz per person/day or Paid 1½oz sample/cocktail accompanied with a tour | Yes – 3 bottles per person per day. Bottles stamped not for resale | No full pours, No Cocktails | No | Yes – Must be sold in a separate room from alcohol |
| SD | No | 3 Tier | Artisan Distillery: 50k gal/year & must use 30% state grown agriculture | Distiller's License Fee: $2500; Artisan Distillery Fee: $500 | $4.68 | On-Site only | Free | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| TN | Tennessee Distillers Guild | 3 Tier | None | Annual Fee: $1000; Application Fee: $300 | $4.46 | On-Site only; No age restriction for visitors | Yes | Yes – No more than 5 gallons per person | No full pours; Yes cocktails but must be offered for free. | No | Yes |
| TX | Texas Distilled Spirits Association | 3 Tier | None | Annual Fee: $1500 | $2.40 | On-Site only; No age restriction for visitors | Yes – Up to 3k gallons poured on premise annually | Yes – 2 bottles per person per 30 days. Max of 3500 gal/year | Yes – 1oz pours and, cocktails from spirits produced at the distillery | No | Yes |
| UT | Distillers Guild of Utah | Control | None | Application Fee: $300; Initial License Fee: $3800; Renewal Fee: $2900 | $13.11 | On-Site Only; No more than 2.5oz per person per day; No one under 21 allowed | Yes | Yes – Operating as a package agency | Yes full pours and cocktails – w/ additional license | Yes | Yes |
| VA | Virginia Distillers Association | Control | None for Regular Distillers license. 36K gal/year for Limited (Farm) Distillery Licenses w/ distillery located on land zoned for agriculture & which grows and uses the agricultural product of the land | Less than 5k gallons: $450; Up to 36k gallons: $2500; More than 36k gallons: $3725 | $19.90 | On-Site only; No age restriction for visitors | Yes – Three ½oz samples per person per day | Yes – licensed as a VA ABC store | No full pours, No Cocktails | No | Yes |
| VT | Distilled Spirits Council of Vermont | Control | None | Annual Distillers License: $1000; Biannual Distillers License: $500 | $7.75 | On-Site; Satellite – up to 10 sites; No age restriction for visitors | Yes – Four ¼oz samples per person per day | Yes | Yes full pours and cocktails at on-site tasting room only | No in state distribution, distilleries can self-distribute outside of VT | Yes |
| WA | Washington Distillers Guild | 3 Tier | Craft Distillery: No more than 150k P.G./year & must use 50% WA grown produce; Manufacture: No production limit | Craft Distillery License: $100; Manufacture License: $2000 per year | $31.48 | On-Site only; No age restriction for visitors | Yes – Eight ¼oz samples per person per day | Yes – Exempt from 17% retail fee | No | Yes for Craft Distillery License | Yes |
| WI | Wisconsin Distillers Guild | 3 Tier | None | Distillery License: $1000 | $3.25 | On-Site only; No one under 21 allowed unless accompanied by a parent or guardian | Yes – For samples after 1½oz complimentary sample per person per day. | Yes | Yes full pours and cocktails from spirits produced at the distillery or imported. | No | Yes |
| WV | No | Control | 50k P.G./year | Distillery License: $1500; Mini-Distillery License: $50 | $5.05 | On-Site only; No age restriction for visitors | Free – Small moderate samples | Yes – Must buy spirits back from the state w/ a 28% markup & must pay a 10% fee for every bottle sold. Sales in first year may not exceed 3k gallons & each subsequent year sales may grow by 2k gallon up to a maximum threshold of 10k gallons per year. | No full pours, No Cocktails | No | Yes |
| WY | Wyoming Distillers Guild | Control | None | Manufactures License: $250 plus separate licenses for equipment; Class A License: $100; Class B License: $50 | None | No on site tasting room; Satellite tasting room allowed; No age restriction for visitors | Yes – 2oz max per person per day | Yes – Only at satellite tasting room. | No full pours, No Cocktails | No | Yes |
