HO W S I T R I P S T F CRA N A C S R E V O L E T A C ADVO T C E R I D R O F G N I P P I H S W ri tt en by Al ex
Ko ra l
May I conduct a brief poll?
How many of you have heard of a specialty craft distilled spirit that you felt an immediate urge to try? How many of you have sought this product in your local liquor stores, only to find it unavailable because that brand is not distributed in your state? And how many attempted to purchase it directly from the distiller online, only to discover that your state's regulations prohibit such shipments? I, for one, can attest to experiencing these frustrations, and I suspect I am far from alone. The fact is that, currently, only nine states permit distilleries to engage in direct-to-consumer (DTC) shipments, thereby leaving a majority of Americans without access to most of the craft spirits produced nationwide. Among aficionados of craft spirits, the concept of DTC shipping garners substantial support, yet it remains largely unattainable due to restrictive state laws. Why do most states W W W . ARTISANSPIRITMAG . C O M
ies to s permit distiller te a st e in n ly on Currently, DTC) shipments, er m su on -c to tec engage in dir without access s n a ic er Am of y it major thereby leaving a ed nationwide. uc od pr s it ir sp ft to most of the cra
continue to inhibit consumers from procuring spirits directly shipped to their residences, especially when nearly all states allow DTC shipping for wine? Moreover, what measures can spirits enthusiasts undertake to address this issue? This article aims to address these questions.
What is DTC shipping of spirits, and why is it unavailable to me? Direct-to-consumer shipping of spirits is when a consumer purchases a product from a distillery, perhaps one down the street or one half-a-dozen states away, and then the 65