How to Select the Right Distributor for Your Alcohol Beverage Brand — Part 2

Distribution /

This article is the second in our series on selecting a distributor for your alcohol beverage product. In Part 1, we covered foundational considerations such as size, geographic scope, and go-to-market strategy. Here, we turn to several additional—and often overlooked—factors that can significantly impact the success of your distribution relationship. Overlap with Competing Brands One […]

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Planning to Sell Your Distillery? Legal Considerations to Address Early

Distilled Spirits /

The sale of a distillery is not a routine business transaction. It involves transferring a federally bonded operation, regulated production activities, valuable intellectual property, distribution relationships, and often significant real estate and equipment. Because distilled spirits are subject to strict federal and state oversight, regulatory strategy must be integrated into the deal from the outset.

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How to Select a Distributor for Your Alcohol Beverage Brand — Part 1

Distribution /

In the United States, the alcohol industry largely operates under the three-tier system, which separates producers, distributors, and retailers. As a result, nearly every brand—whether emerging or established—will eventually need to partner with a distributor to bring its products to market. Choosing that partner is one of the most consequential decisions a brand can make.

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Thinking About Selling Your Brewery? Key Legal Considerations

Beer, TTB /

A brewery sale is not a standard business exit. It involves transferring a federally bonded operation with regulatory approvals, production assets, distribution relationships, intellectual property, and often significant real estate and equipment. Because brewing is a highly regulated industry, the legal structure and licensing strategy behind the transaction are just as important as the purchase

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Thinking About Selling Your Winery? Key Legal Considerations

NYSLA, TTB, Wine /

Selling a winery is not just a business transaction — it is the transfer of a highly regulated operation with layered assets, licenses, intellectual property, real estate, inventory, and brand equity. Whether you are exploring a full exit or bringing in a strategic partner, early legal planning can preserve value and prevent costly delays. Below

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Alternating Proprietorship vs. Contract Brewing: Choosing the Right Path for Your Beer Brand

Beer, TTB /

For entrepreneurs entering the beer industry, one of the earliest structural decisions is how — and where — your beer will be produced. Two common models dominate the conversation: alternating proprietorship and contract brewing. While both allow brands to avoid building a standalone brewery from day one, they are legally and operationally distinct. Choosing the

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custom crush vs alternating proprietorship

Custom Crush vs. Alternating Proprietorship: What Wineries Need to Know

TTB, Wine /

As more wineries look for flexible production options, two common operating models often come into focus: custom crush and alternating proprietorship (“AP”) arrangements. While both allow wineries to produce wine at facilities they do not own, they are treated very differently under federal and state law, and choosing the wrong structure can lead to licensing,

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how to start a spirits distribution business

How to Start a Spirits Distribution Business

Distilled Spirits, Distribution /

Starting a spirits distribution business in the United States involves more than securing suppliers and customers. Because distilled spirits are one of the most heavily regulated categories of alcohol, distributors must navigate a layered system of federal, state, and local licensing, as well as ongoing compliance obligations. At the federal level, most spirits distributors must

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