Compliant Bootlegger · All wholesale states · DTC tool
Colorado Wholesale Distribution Reference
Three-tier distribution reference for out-of-state suppliers of wine, beer, spirits and cider. General information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with state authorities. Listed agency fees are not Compliant Bootlegger service fees.
Colorado — wine
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Importer's License (Vinous & Spiritous Liquor)
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- $300
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Yes – Brand
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- Retailers may be provided with no more than 3 liters of a particular brand; but such sampling must be made with the wholesaler present and with no condition that the sampling lead to a purchase by the retailers
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- Yes - Colorado prohibits any importation of alcohol from any unlicensed importer or any licensee other than the primary source of the supply in the United States, unless said licensee provides proof being the sole source of supply in Colorado
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Yes - deliveries must come to rest at wholesaler's instate location
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- $0.0833 per liter
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Colorado — beer
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- Nonresident Manufacturer License holders may solicit orders directly from Colorado retailers, but the orders must be fulfilled through an instate distributor
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Importer's or Nonresident Manufacturer's License (Malt Liquor)
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- $1,550 new application fee; $300 annual fee for Importer's/Manufacturer's (Malt Liquor) licensee
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Yes – Label
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- Only distributors may supply samples
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- Yes – supplier must certify to distributor they are the primary supplier
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Yes – deliveries must come to rest at wholesaler’s instate location
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- $0.08 per gallon
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Colorado — spirits
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- No, Colorado is not a control state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- No, an out-of-state spirits manufacturer may not self-distribute to retailers in Colorado.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Colorado requires an Importer's Vinous and Spiritous License for out-of-state suppliers to sell to in-state wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- Colorado charges $300 for its license for out-of-state suppliers, plus an initial application fee of $1,550.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- No, you do not need money held in bond to obtain a license in Colorado.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- No, Colorado does not require an in-state representative for suppliers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Yes, Colorado requires product brand/labels to be registered per brand before they can be sold to in-state wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- No, Colorado does not require price posting.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- No, Colorado does not require Distributor Agreements to be filed with state regulators.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- No, Colorado does not require territory assignments to be filed with state regulators.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- No, Colorado does not have rules on the exclusivity of territory or brand assignments between suppliers and their wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- In Colorado, retailers may be provided with spirits samples of no more than 3 liters of a particular brand; but such sampling must be made with the wholesaler present and with no condition that the sampling lead to a purchase by the retailers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- No, there are no franchise rules in Colorado that can restrict a spirits supplier's ability to negotiate or cancel their distributor agreements.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- Yes, Colorado prohibits any importation of alcohol from any unlicensed importer or any licensee other than the primary source of the supply in the United States, unless said licensee provides proof being the sole source of supply in Colorado.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Yes, in Colorado deliveries must come to rest at wholesaler's in-state location.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- Colorado imposes an excise tax on spirits of $0.6026 per liter.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No, Colorado does not require out-of-state suppliers to remit the excise taxes.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- Colorado does not require out-of-state suppliers to file any follow-up reports on their sales to in-state wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Colorado — cider
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- No, Colorado is not a control state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- No, an out-of-state cider manufacturer may not self-distribute to retailers in Colorado.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Colorado requires out-of-state cideries to hold an Importer's License (Vinous & Spiritous Liquor) to sell to Colorado wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- A Colorado Importer's License costs $300, plus a $1,550 initial application fee.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- Colorado does not require suppliers to hold a bond in the state to apply for a license.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- No, Colorado does not require suppliers' representatives to be licensed.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Yes, Colorado requires that cider products are registered per brand before they can be sold to in-state wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- No, Colorado does not require posting prices.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- No, Colorado does not require Distributor Agreements to be filed with state regulators.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- No, Colorado does not require territory assignments to be filed with state regulators.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- No, Colorado does not have rules on the exclusivity of territory or brand assignments between suppliers and their wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- In Colorado, retailers may be provided with no more than three liters of a particular brand as samples. However, such sampling must be made with the wholesaler present and with no condition that the sampling lead to a purchase by the retailers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- No, in Colorado there are not franchise rules that can restrict a supplier's ability to negotiate or cancel their distributor agreements.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- Yes, Colorado prohibits any importation of alcohol from any unlicensed importer or any licensee other than the primary source of the supply in the United States, unless said licensee provides proof being the sole source of supply in Colorado.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Yes, in Colorado cider deliveries must come to rest at a wholesaler's instate location.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- In Colorado, ciders with an ABV less than 7% are taxed at $0.08 per gallon, and ciders with an ABV of 7% or greater are taxed at $0.0833 per liter.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No, Colorado wholesalers, not out-of-state suppliers, are required to pay the excise tax on ciders sold in the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- Colorado does not require out-of-state cider suppliers to file a report on their sales to wholesalers in the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.