50 State Distillery Survey Results: Tours, Sample Sizes, Bottle Sales, DTC Shipping & Cocktails to Go [The Data]

DistilleryTrail - The United States of Distilleries, Bottles Sales, Cocktails to Go, DTC Shipping Survey 2021

Craft spirit distilleries have grown exponentially across the United States over the last 20 years. We’ve gone from a handful of distilleries in a handful of states to having at least one distillery in every state in the nation.

Ever since the end of Prohibition the government agency now known as the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau or simply the TTB has set the standards for beer, wine and spirits across the country. The definition for spirits like bourbon – America’s Native Spirit, Tennessee Whiskey, Vodka, Absinthe, etc. have been established at the federal level while states set many of the standards for distilleries within their borders. For the most part allowing local jurisdictions to establish their own rules is a good thing but over the last nearly 100 years it’s created a patchwork of regulations that vary widely by state. What spirits makers can do in one state does not necessarily apply in another state. The patchwork creates both opportunities and challenges for makers as well as consumers as they tour this great land tasting the best spirits often made from locally grown grains, sugar canes or fruits.

We surveyed distilleries in every state plus D.C. to pull together real-world answers to give distillers and their fans a snapshot of what to expect in each state. This data was accurate when collected but with today’s pandemic going on some of these rules like Cocktails to Go (CTG) or Direct to Consumer (DTC) shipping are being re-written day by day. And some temporary orders allowing things like CTG may expire based on state controls.

We asked distillers across the country a series of about a dozen questions. Some of the responses are pretty straight forward while others are a bit surprising. For example in the Sooner state of Oklahoma you cannot sell or buy a bottle of spirits from the distillery. Can you imagine this visitor experience. “Wow, I love your gin. I’ll take two bottles.” Distiller, “Great, you’ll have to go pick it up at the local liquor store.” Hmm, time to adjust some laws there to help out these small businesses.

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DistilleryTrail - The United States of Distilleries, Bottles Sales, Cocktails to Go, DTC Shipping Survey 2021 INFOGRAPHIC — Click to view full size image.

And sample sizes vary from a low of 1/2 ounce all the way up to unlimited. It’s kind of hard to taste a bourbon, a whitedog, a vodka and a gin if you are maxed out at 1/2 oz. And on the other end of the scale where 25% of the states have “unlimited” samples, distillers were quick to point out that if anyone seems to have imbibed in too many samples they will quickly and responsibly be cut-off.

Now, without further ado, let’s get into the nitty gritty and look at the survey responses. The data below is all sortable. The default view is sorted by state so you can quickly find things but if you want to see who can ship bottles from the distillery Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) then simply click the heading and you will automatically sort the list.

And if you would like to see a summary of the data take a look at the related infographic version of this story here. One note, some of this information like cocktails to go is changing daily as the country deals with the horrific pandemic. That said, read on, and start making your plans to support one of the 2,200 plus craft distilleries across the country. If you are planning a visit it is highly recommended you call ahead to make sure the distillery is open for visitors or the gift shop is open for socially distanced purchases.

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A Survey of 50 Distillers from 50 States and D.C.

State	Do you offer samples at the distillery?	Is a tour required for samples?	Are samples free, paid or both?	What size samples can you serve?	Do you offer samples at festivals, liquor stores, etc.	Are bottle sales allowed at the distillery?	How many bottles or liters can you sell per person per day?	DTC: Can you ship bottles intrastate from the distillery? (In-State)	DTC: Can you ship bottles interstate from the distillery? (Out of State)	Which states can you ship to?	Can you sell Cocktails to Go?	Sunday Sales	Control State
AL	Yes	No	Both	Unlimited	Yes	Yes	3 x 750ml	No	No		Yes - Perm	No	Yes
AK	Yes	No	Paid	3 oz.	No	Yes	5 x 750ml	No	No	AK, AZ, CT, HI, KY, NE, NV, NH, ND, RI, DC & Military Bases	No	Yes	No
AZ	Yes	No	Paid	5 x 1/2 oz.	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	Yes - Perm	Yes - Perm	AK, AZ, CT, HI, KY, NE, NV, NH, ND, RI, DC & Military Bases	Yes - Perm	Yes	No
AR	Yes	No	Free	Unlimited	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	No	No		No	Yes	No
CA	Yes	No	Paid	6 x 1/4 oz.	Yes	Yes	2.25 liters	Yes - Temp	No		Yes - Temp	Yes	No
CO	Yes	No	Both	Unlimited	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	No	No		Yes - Temp	Yes	No
CT	Yes	No	Both	2 oz.	Yes	Yes	1.5L *Not more than 5 gallons in any two-month period.	No	No	AK, AZ, CT, HI, KY, NE, NV, NH, ND, RI, DC & Military Bases	Yes - Temp	Yes	No
DC	Yes	No	Both	Unlimited	Yes	Yes	3 x 750ml	Yes - Perm	Yes - Perm	AK, AZ, CT, HI, KY, NE, NV, NH, ND, RI, DC & Military Bases	Yes - Temp	Yes	No
DE	Yes	No	Paid	Unlimited	Yes	Yes	12 x 750ml	No	No		Yes - Perm	Yes	No
FL	Yes	No	Free	Unlimited	No	Yes	6 bottles per year per brand	No	No		No	Yes	No
GA	Yes	No	Paid	Unlimited	No	Yes	3 x 750ml	No	No		Yes - Perm	Yes	No
HI	Yes	No	Paid	3 x 1/2 oz.	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	Yes - Perm	Yes - Perm	AK, AZ, CT, HI, KY, NE, NV, NH, ND, RI, DC & Military Bases	No	Yes	No
ID	Yes	No	Free	3 x 1/4 oz.	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	No	No		Yes - Temp	Yes	Yes
IL	Yes	Yes	Paid	3 x 1/2 oz.	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	No	No		Yes - Temp	Yes	No
IN	Yes	No	Paid	7 x 1/4 oz.	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	No	No		Yes - Temp	Yes	No
IA	Yes	No	Both	2 oz.	Yes	Yes	9 liters	No	No		Yes - Perm	Yes	Yes
KS	Yes	No	Both	1/2 oz. per product	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	No	No		Yes - Temp	Yes	No
KY	Yes	No	Both	1.75 oz.	Yes	Yes	9 liters	Yes - Perm	Yes - Perm	AK, AZ, CT, HI, KY, NE, NV, NH, ND, RI, DC & Military Bases	Yes - Temp	Yes	No
LA	Yes	No	Both	Unlimited	Yes	Yes	12 bottles per month	No	No		No	Yes	No
ME	Yes	No	Both	Unlimited	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	No	No		No	Yes	Yes
MD	Yes	Yes	Both	2 oz.	Yes	Yes	3 Bottles	Yes - Temp	Yes - Perm		Yes - Temp	Yes	No
MA	Yes	No	Both	4 x 1/4 oz. per product	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	No	No		No	Yes	No
MI	Yes	Yes	Both	Unlimited	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	No	No		Yes - Perm	Yes	Yes
MN	Yes	No	Free	3 x 1/2 oz.	Yes	Yes	1 x 375ml	No	No		No	Yes	No
MS	Yes	No	Both	4 x 1/4 oz.	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	No	No		No	No	Yes
MO	Yes	Yes	Paid	3 x 1/2 oz.	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	No	No		Yes - Temp	Yes	No
MT	Yes	No	Both	2 oz.	Yes	Yes	1.75L	No	No		No	No	Yes
NE	Yes	No	Both	Unlimited	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	Yes - Temp	No		Yes - Temp	Yes	No
NV	Yes	No	Free	2 oz.	Yes	Yes	12 bottles per month. **Not exceed six month per year. Max of 72 bottles per year.	No	No	AK, AZ, CT, HI, KY, NE, NV, NH, ND, RI, DC & Military Bases	Yes - Temp	Yes	No
NH	Yes	No	Both	1/2 oz. per product	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	No	No	AK, AZ, CT, HI, KY, NE, NV, NH, ND, RI, DC & Military Bases	No	Yes	Yes
NJ	Yes	Yes	Both	3 x 1/2 oz.	Yes	Yes	5 liters	No	No		Yes - Temp	Yes	No
NM	Yes	No	Free	6 x 1/4 oz.	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	No	No		Yes - Temp	Yes	No
NY	Yes	No	Paid	Unlimited	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	Yes - Temp	No		Yes - Temp	Yes	No
NC	Yes	Yes	Free	6 x 1/4 oz.	Yes	Yes	8 liters	No	No		Yes - Temp	No	Yes
ND	Yes	No	Both	1.75 oz.	Yes	Yes	12 x 750ml per month	No	No	AK, AZ, CT, HI, KY, NE, NV, NH, ND, RI, DC & Military Bases	No	Yes	No
OH	Yes	No	Paid	4 x 1/4 oz.	Yes	Yes	2 liters	No	No		Yes - Perm	Yes	Yes
OK	Yes	No	Both	3 oz.	No	No	0	No	No		No	Yes	No
OR	Yes	No	Free	1 oz.	Yes	Yes	2 Bottles	Yes - Temp	No		No	Yes	Yes
PA	Yes	No	Both	3 x 1/2 oz.	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	Yes - Perm	No		Yes - Perm	Yes	Yes
RI	Yes	No	Paid	1.5 oz.	Yes	Yes	1 x 750ml or 2 x 375ml	No	No	AK, AZ, CT, HI, KY, NE, NV, NH, ND, RI, DC & Military Bases	Yes - Temp	Yes	No
SC	Yes	Yes	Paid	3 oz.	Yes	Yes	2.25 liters	No	No		No	No	No
SD	Yes	No	Free	12 x 1/4 oz.	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	No	No		No	Yes	No
TN	Yes	No	Paid	4 x 1/2 oz.	Yes	Yes	5 gallons	No	No		Yes - Temp	Yes	No
TX	Yes	No	Both	1/2 oz. per product	Yes	Yes	1500ml per person every 30 days, Max of 750ml per bottle	No	No		No	No	No
UT	Yes	No	Paid	5 x 1/2 oz.	No	Yes	Unlimited	No	No		No	No	Yes
VT	Yes	No	Free	1.5 oz.	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	Yes - Temp	No		Yes - Temp	Yes	Yes
VA	Yes	No	Paid	4 x 1/2 oz.	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	Yes - Temp	No		Yes - Temp	Yes	Yes
WA	Yes	No	Both	1/2 oz. per product, maximum 2 oz.	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	Yes - Perm	Yes - Perm		Yes - Perm	Yes	No
WV	Yes	No	Free	3 oz.	No	Yes	10 gallons	No	No		No	Yes	Yes
WI	Yes	No	Free	.5 oz.	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	No	No		No	Yes	No
WY	Yes	No	Both	3 oz.	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	No	No		Yes - Perm	Yes	Yes

Looking to find a distillery in your neighborhood or another state while you are traveling (safely of course)? Visit our Distillery Directory to find every distillery in the country. You can view Distilleries by State here or start with a list of Distillery Trails here.

I also what to shout out a big “Thank You” to all the distillers that took the time to contribute to this research.

Stay tuned, stay safe, and let us know if something has changed in your state. You can email us anytime at Info@DistilleryTrail.com.

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