Kentucky

Here's your guide to registering products in Kentucky.

Which product types to register

In Kentucky, you'll need to register:

  • Malt/beer
  • Spirits
  • Wine
  • Low-ABV products

How to register your products

In Kentucky, you'll need to register your products as New Brands. Kentucky considers all registrations as one type, so all line extensions or revisions must be submitted as a new brand registration. If you're unsure whether a new product needs to be registered, reach out to the state to confirm.

State fees and approval time

There are no charges or technology fees for registrations in Kentucky.

Because the state sometimes requires that distributors review and co-submit registrations, approval times may vary.

License information

You'll need to enter your license information to submit a registration. The following are examples of formatting for the different types of state licenses.

  • Direct Shipping Licenses: 123-SHL-456789
  • Supplier Licenses: 123-LOSDWS-4567
  • Wholesale / Distributor Licenses: 123-MD-456
    • The middle two letters may be MD (malt distributor) or WH (wine/spirits wholesaler). In Kentucky, a distributor refers to beer, and a wholesaler refers to wine and spirits.
    • If you are registering brands for Self-Distribution, use the following license numbers: SELF-MD-Distributor or SELF-WH-Distributor.

Distributor information

Distributor or wholesaler information is required for distribution or wholesale registrations only. You'll need to assign territories to your distributors for each malt beverage registration.

Distributors and wholesalers are required to review and approve registrations before they're submitted to the state. Registrations submitted by suppliers will be sent to a distributor or wholesaler portal for approval.

Distributors and wholesalers can also generate registrations, in which case suppliers need to review and approve them before they're submitted to the state. When a distributor or wholesaler submits a registration, the supplier will automatically receive an email prompting them to approve and sign the created registration. Then the registration is automatically sent to the state for approval.

If you're wondering why your registration hasn't been approved yet, check with your distributor or wholesaler to ensure that they have approved the registration. The state won't be able to view registration applications until distributors or wholesalers and suppliers have approved them.

Required documents

  • Distributor Appointment Letter (required for wholesale registrations only)
  • Trade Name Document (if you answered Yes to Does this brand operate a trade name owned by you?)
  • Brand Owner Authorization Letter (if you answered No to Are you the brand producer?)
  • Brand Acquisition Letter (if you answered Yes to Are you registering a label because you just recently acquired this brand?)

Renewals

Renewals are not required in Kentucky, as approved registrations do not expire.

Contact information

Kellie Lovan - abc.info@ky.gov 
(502) 564-4850

Kentucky active brands site