Resources for Alcoholic Beverage Distributors and Wholesalers

Quickly find distributors and wholesalers of alcoholic beverages. Review listings for links to alcoholic beverage distributors supplying wholesale beer, wine, and spirits to businesses regionally or nationwide.
Alcoholic Beverages

Producers and distributors of beer, liquor, wine, champagne, sake, hard cider, along with industry publications. more »

Beer Distributors

Beer distributors and wholesalers, including importers and exporters. more »

Breweries

US-based and international producers of beer. more »

Liquor and Spirits Professional Organizations

Industry groups, councils, associations and organizations. more »

Liquor Licensing

Quickly find providers of liquor license services. Research liquor licensing companies that offer liquor licenses for sale. Identify liquor license specialists and brokers offering… more »

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Whiskey

Producers of whiskey. more »

Alcoholic Beverage Distributors and Wholesalers

The government licenses alcohol distributors and allows them to sell alcohol to retailers. Retailers must posses an alcohol license to buy alcoholic beverages. The three-tier system that regulates alcohol wholesalers and liquor distributors actually helps smaller companies to get into the market while allowing the government to regulate the sale and collections of taxes on alcohol. Alcohol wholesalers and liquor distributors work hard to build a variety of alcoholic beverages from different sources of origination. A small mom and pop company from Colorado finds a distributor and sells their product across the state or through several states depending on where the distributor holds licenses.

With the three-tier system, an alcohol producer must sell alcoholic beverages to a liquor distributor who then sells to a retailer. The government defines a producer as anyone who brews beers or malted beverages, makes wine, distills alcohol or imports alcoholic beverages. The government allows wineries and brewpubs to both produce and retail alcoholic beverages. These two producers are the only exemptions from the three-tier system.

Wine and spirits distributors:
  1. Wholesale alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
  2. Connect small manufacturing companies with a large market
  3. Maintain the proper licenses required to operate

Become an alcoholic beverage distributor to wholesale alcohol

As a distributor, you get to find new products, promote products and work with large established companies. The three-tier system ensures your job security. You do need to be prepared for competition from larger companies, but a unique line helps you enter the industry successfully.
forms, permits and applications for becoming a distributor. 

Locate alcohol distributors actively seeking to sell and buy wholesale liquor

Many distributors join trade associations and post specific requests on the association's website. Reviewing the posts narrows your target search to distributors in need of your product. The posts also indicate producers looking for distributors.

Join a trade association to boost business

Trade associations connect producers, importers, distributors and other professionals in the alcohol industry. With a trade association, you boost business by marketing to the people most interested in your profession. Trade associations keep members up-to-date on changes to the industry, especially legal changes.
  • Make sure the alcohol beverage distributors you use offer refrigerator shipping.
  • Alcohol regulations vary by state, so contact your state's regulatory board for specifics.