Compliant Bootlegger · All wholesale states · DTC tool
Kentucky 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.
Kentucky — 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
- Out-of-State Distilled Spirits and Wine Supplier's License
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- $1,550 per year if importing more than 50,000 gallons annually into Kentucky; $260 per year if importing 50,000 gallons or less
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
- Yes - a Special Agent or Solicitor's License is required for any person soliciting orders for suppliers
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Yes – each COLA
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 - designated wholesalers must register their consent to distribute each label that is registered
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
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- Only approved representatives may provide samples to retailers; they must receive samples from designated wholesalers and may not have in their possession at any one time more than 32 oz. of any one brand, or 3 gallons of all brands; all bottles must be labeled as "Sample - Not for Sale"
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 - only the primary source may register a label
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Yes - products must be delivered to a wholesaler's warehouse, and remain there for at least 24 hours
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- $0.50 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
- Yes - 73A530 Consignor's Report of Alcoholic Beverages Shipped
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Kentucky — 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
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Out-of-State Malt Beverage Producer/Supplier
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- $260 annually if selling less than 25,000 barrels into Kentucky per year; $1550 annually if selling 25,000 or more barrel into Kentucky per year
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
- Yes – Breweries must designate at least one in-state salesperson, registration costs $30 per year
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
- Yes
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
- 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
- Not permitted
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
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Yes – products must be delivered to a wholesaler’s warehouse, and remain there for at least 24 hours
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- $2.50 per barrel
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
- Yes – monthly 73A626 Report
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Kentucky — spirits
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- No, Kentucky 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 Kentucky.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Kentucky requires an Out-of-State Distilled Spirits and Wine Supplier's 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
- Kentucky charges $1,550 per year for its out-of-state supplier license if importing more than 50,000 gallons annually into Kentucky, or $260 per year if importing 50,000 gallons or less.
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 Kentucky.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- Yes, Kentucky requires a Special Agent or Solicitor's License for any person soliciting orders for suppliers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Yes, Kentucky requires product brand/labels to be registered per COLA 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, Kentucky does not require price posting.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- Yes, Kentucky requires Distributor Agreements to be filed with state regulators. Designated wholesalers must register their consent to distribute each label that is registered.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- Yes, Kentucky requires 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, Kentucky 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
- Only approved representatives may provide samples to retailers in Kentucky; they must receive samples from designated wholesalers and may not have in their possession at any one time more than 32 oz. of any one brand, or 3 gallons of all brands. All bottles must be labeled "Sample - Not for Sale".
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- Yes, there are franchise rules in Kentucky 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, in Kentucky only the primary source may register a label.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Yes. In Kentucky, spirits products must be delivered to a wholesaler's warehouse and remain there for at least 24 hours.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- Kentucky imposes an excise tax on spirits of $1.92 per gallon, plus $0.05 per case.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No, Kentucky 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
- Kentucky requires the ABC-1003 Monthly Report of Shipments to Distributors from out-of-state suppliers on their sales to in-state wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Kentucky — cider
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- No, Kentucky 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 Kentucky.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Kentucky requires out-of-state cideries to hold an Out-of-State Distilled Spirits and Wine Supplier's License to sell to Kentucky wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- A Kentucky Out-of-State Supplier's License costs $1,550 per year if importing more than 50,000 gallons annually into the state or $260 per year if importing 50,000 gallons or less.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- Kentucky 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
- Yes, Kentucky requires salespersons employed by a supplier to hold a Special Agent or Solicitor's License when soliciting orders in the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Yes, Kentucky requires that cider products are registered per label 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, Kentucky does not require posting prices.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- Yes, Kentucky requires that designated wholesalers must register their consent to distribute each label that is registered.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- Yes, Kentucky requires 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, Kentucky 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 Kentucky, only approved representatives may provide samples to retailers. They must receive samples from designated wholesalers and may not have in their possession at any one time more than 32 oz. of any one brand, or three gallons of all brands. All bottles must be labeled as "Sample - Not for Sale."
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- Yes, in Kentucky there are 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, in Kentucky only the primary source may register a label.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Yes, in Kentucky products must be delivered to a wholesaler's warehouse and remain there for at least 24 hours.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- In Kentucky, ciders with an ABV less than 7% are taxed at $2.50 per 31-gallon barrel, and ciders with an ABV of 7% or greater are taxed at $0.50 per gallon.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No, Kentucky 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
- Kentucky requires out-of-state cider suppliers to file the 73A530 Consignor's Report of Alcoholic Beverages Shipped.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.