The Voice
Working alongside our member distilleries and partners, we support sound public policies, strong partnerships and responsible initiatives to drive modernization and meaningful change.
We work tirelessly to protect the trade interests of our distillers, advocating for improved legislation surrounding the production, sales and distribution of our state’s signature spirits.
We closely monitor the laws, policies and regulations that impact our members, taking swift and sound action when issues arise.
We build awareness and understanding of our distillers’ contributions to the economy, the environment and communities throughout the Commonwealth.
The KDA Bourbon Trail® PAC is a bipartisan effort that brings together candidates, political parties and caucuses on both sides for the greater good of Bourbon, and all that it means to the people of Kentucky.
With no difference in alcohol content between standard servings of beer, wine and spirits, lawmakers should create equal taxation and privilege levels between these categories, thus boosting the growing craft-spirits industry nationwide.
Kentucky passed and paved the way for the responsible shipping of spirits directly to Bourbon enthusiasts in any reciprocal state. Following consumer enthusiasm and demand, lawmakers in all states are encouraged to follow suit and pass reciprocal shipping for distilleries of all sizes, just like wine has responsibly enjoyed for 50 years and can now ship to consumers in 47 states.
Policymakers should support similar tax rates on Ready-to-Drink Cocktails based on ABV, not the alcohol ingredient. Likewise, ABV should be the driving point behind market access – it makes no sense to discriminate against beer, wine or spirits when the products have the same ABV range.
The distilling industry has long played a vital and active role in educational efforts against impaired driving, binge drinking and underage access. These responsible practices also extend into shipping policies that mandate ID checks and adult-signature-required labeling for alcohol deliveries.
Retaliatory tariffs on Bourbon by the European Union and England crushed exports 2018-2022. We must prevent this from happening again.
With 14 million-plus barrels of Bourbon aging in Kentucky, inventories are higher than ever. Therefore, rebuilding and growing Bourbon exports to existing markets – as well as opening new nations like India and China – must remain the priority.
The Kentucky Distillers Association advocates for transparent, fair and bias-free development of U.S. dietary guidelines for adult alcohol use by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture in a manner based solely on the preponderance of scientific and medical knowledge, as required by the law.
The Kentucky Distillers’ Association advocates for passage of the United States Postal Service Shipping Equity Act HR 3721. This act would allow the USPS to ship directly from licensed producers, wholesalers, importers and retailers to consumers over the age of 21, in accordance with state and local laws at the delivery location.
The bill would level the playing field and increase consumer and manufacturer choice. Estimates show the USPS could gain $180 million annually through beverage alcohol shipping where permissible with state and local laws.
The Kentucky Distillers’ Association supports passage of S. 1781/H.R.4073, which would allow all beverage alcohol products to participate in the U.S. Duty Drawback program meant to incentivize American exports.
Currently, beer, wine and clear spirits can all participate in the U.S. Duty Drawback export incentive program but “brown spirits,” such as Bourbon, cannot. This program would help stimulate the global thirst for America’s Spirit and create a level playing field across the industry.
Here are just a few of the landmark bills passed by the Kentucky General Assembly with the KDA’s full support.
In a monumental move forward for craft distillers, SB 50 allows Kentucky Class B Distiller’s License holders to self distribute up to 5,000 gallons a year. The privilege increases market access and brand building opportunities for small and startup distillers, helps local businesses grow and provides more choice for Bourbon enthusiasts and visitors. The bill also brings craft spirits into parity with craft breweries and small-farm wineries, which have had self-distribution privileges since 2021 and 2023 respectively.
This omnibus alcohol bill broadened an industry-backed and state-match grant fund for alcohol safety and responsibility education for young people. Other changes bring more accountability and transparency to the industry’s vintage spirits market, and authorize the ABC to auction confiscated alcohol instead of destroying it, with the revenue supporting the alcohol education fund. The bill requires third-party delivery services to check IDs when delivering alcohol, and a change to Kentucky’s riverboat classification allows alcohol to be served on smaller vessels, thereby bringing Bourbon boat tours to narrower waterways.
This bill phases out Kentucky’s discriminatory barrel tax between 2026 and 2043. As the only U.S. state – and location globally – that taxes aging barrels of spirits, Kentucky’s HB 5 removes a century-long bottleneck in the Commonwealth’s ability to attract new distilling jobs, expansions and startups. Compromises by distillers ensure funding for school, fire and EMS districts will remain whole. As well, HB 5 exempts from the phase out any barrel warehouse in an industrial revenue bond contract. As no other industry pays taxes on goods still in production, HB 5 finally brings distillers parity, treating them like all other Kentucky manufacturers. The legislation builds on the Bourbon Barrel Tax Credit, passed in 2014 via HB 445.
The bill provides statutory authorization and guidelines for private barrel selection events and allows each distillery that sells souvenir bottles and provides free samples to establish one satellite tasting room each. HB 500 also lets distillers create exclusive bottles, which can be sold only in-person in their gift shops and tasting rooms. The bill also allows distilleries to sell at fairs, festivals and farmers markets. These privileges will drive community development, create jobs and attract new and repeat visitors.
By streamlining direct-to-consumer (DTC) shipping by alcohol producers, the long-awaited passage of House Bill 415 brings us one step closer to meeting consumers’ growing demand for Kentucky Bourbon.
HB 100 allows consumers to sell rare “vintage” or “antique” spirits produced decades ago to licensed retailers for resale to the public. Kentucky is now hailed as a worldwide leader in this growing market as many bars and liquor stores have created world-class whiskey libraries and offer vintage spirits to visitors making the pilgrimage to the Birthplace of Bourbon.
SB 11 boldly modernized the KBT® experience by allowing distilleries
to offer more free samples, operate restaurants, serve cocktails by the drink, increase gift shop bottle sales, and allowing distilleries to give free novelty items or production byproducts in gift shops or to charity auctions.
“Take home cocktails” were a lifeline to our restaurant, bar and hospitality partners during the pandemic. The passage of SB 67 makes this option permanent in Kentucky, offering a much needed boost to businesses as they continue to recover.
The KDA partnered with MADD and many other groups to strengthen and improve ignition interlock laws put in place by HB 60 – a bill that requires DUI offenders to use ignition interlock devices as a way to prevent drunk driving and change habits.
For more than a decade, the KDA has led the way in working with members of the General Assembly to grow and enhance our signature distilling industry. Click below to view all of the KDA’s past legislative success.
2023 Award Recipient
Gov. Andy Beshear, Sens. Robert Stivers, Damon Thayer, Julie Raque Adams and Chris McDaniel, along with Reps. David Osborne, Jason Petrie and Rachel Roberts were recognized for their leadership on 2023 landmark legislation to sunset the state’s discriminatory barrel taxes across 20 years. This phase-out will put Kentucky on a level playing field with all other states that seek to attract new and expanding distilleries, along with their jobs, investment dollars and tourism vibrancy. Through carefully brokered compromises with counties where Bourbon barrels age, these elected leaders have also ensured funding for local schools and fire departments is protected.
2023 Award Recipient
Sens. Chris McDaniel, Robert Stivers, Damon Thayer and Julie Raque Adams, along with Gov. Andy Beshear and Reps. David Osborne, Jason Petrie and Rachel Roberts were recognized for their leadership on 2023 landmark legislation to sunset the state’s discriminatory barrel taxes across 20 years. This phase-out will put Kentucky on a level playing field with all other states that seek to attract new and expanding distilleries, along with their jobs, investment dollars and tourism vibrancy. Through carefully brokered compromises with counties where Bourbon barrels age, these elected leaders have also ensured funding for local schools and fire departments is protected.
2023 Award Recipient
Reps. David Osborne, Jason Petrie and Rachel Roberts, Gov. Andy Beshear and Sens. Robert Stivers, Damon Thayer, Julie Raque Adams and Chris McDaniel were recognized for their leadership on 2023 landmark legislation to sunset the state’s discriminatory barrel taxes across 20 years. This phase-out will put Kentucky on a level playing field with all other states that seek to attract new and expanding distilleries, along with their jobs, investment dollars and tourism vibrancy. Through carefully brokered compromises with counties where Bourbon barrels age, these elected leaders have also ensured funding for local schools and fire departments is protected.
2023 Award Recipient
Reps. Jason Petrie, David Osborne and Rachel Roberts, Gov. Andy Beshear and Sens. Robert Stivers, Damon Thayer, Julie Raque Adams and Chris McDaniel were recognized for their leadership on 2023 landmark legislation to sunset the state’s discriminatory barrel taxes across 20 years. This phase-out will put Kentucky on a level playing field with all other states that seek to attract new and expanding distilleries, along with their jobs, investment dollars and tourism vibrancy. Through carefully brokered compromises with counties where Bourbon barrels age, these elected leaders have also ensured funding for local schools and fire departments is protected.
2023 Award Recipient
Sens. Julie Raque Adams, Robert Stivers, Damon Thayer and Chris McDaniel, along with Gov. Andy Beshear and Reps. David Osborne, Jason Petrie and Rachel Roberts were recognized for their leadership on 2023 landmark legislation to sunset the state’s discriminatory barrel taxes across 20 years. This phase-out will put Kentucky on a level playing field with all other states that seek to attract new and expanding distilleries, along with their jobs, investment dollars and tourism vibrancy. Through carefully brokered compromises with counties where Bourbon barrels age, these elected leaders have also ensured funding for local schools and fire departments is protected.
2023 Award Recipient
Reps. Rachel Roberts, David Osborne and Jason Petrie, along with Gov. Andy Beshear and Sens. Robert Stivers, Damon Thayer, Julie Raque Adams and Chris McDaniel were recognized for their leadership on 2023 landmark legislation to sunset the state’s discriminatory barrel taxes across 20 years. This phase-out will put Kentucky on a level playing field with all other states that seek to attract new and expanding distilleries, along with their jobs, investment dollars and tourism vibrancy. Through carefully brokered compromises with counties where Bourbon barrels age, these elected leaders have also ensured funding for local schools and fire departments is protected.
2023 Award Recipient
2022 Award Recipient
2020 Award Recipient
2017 Award Recipient
Sens. Damon Thayer, Robert Stivers, Julie Raque Adams and Chris McDaniel, along with Gov. Andy Beshear and Reps. David Osborne, Jason Petrie and Rachel Roberts were recognized for their leadership on 2023 landmark legislation to sunset the state’s discriminatory barrel taxes across 20 years. This phase-out will put Kentucky on a level playing field with all other states that seek to attract new and expanding distilleries, along with their jobs, investment dollars and tourism vibrancy. Through carefully brokered compromises with counties where Bourbon barrels age, these elected leaders have also ensured funding for local schools and fire departments is protected.
Sens. Thayer and Schickel, and Reps. Koenig and McCoy, in 2022 for legislation to legalize the popular private barrel selection program and sales of barrel-aged and batched cocktails, allow distillers to sell exclusive bottles at their gift shops, open a satellite tasting room and offer complimentary samples and sell bottles and fairs, festivals and farmer’s markets.
Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, received the award in 2020 for his bold leadership in championing landmark legislation that will advance Kentucky as a model for spirits shipping around the country and provide parity through other key initiatives that will create jobs and enhance tourism.
Senate Majority Leader Thayer, R-Georgetown, received the award in 2017 for his skilled leadership in passing legislation that gives visitors the ability to ship bottles home, and their staunch defense of key tourism development incentives during tense budget negotiations
2022 Award Recipient
2020 Award Recipient
2016 Award Recipient
Sens. Thayer and Schickel, and Reps. Koenig and McCoy, in 2022 for legislation to legalize the popular private barrel selection program and sales of barrel-aged and batched cocktails, allow distillers to sell exclusive bottles at their gift shops, open a satellite tasting room and offer complimentary samples and sell bottles and fairs, festivals and farmer’s markets.
Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, received the award in 2020 for his bold leadership in championing landmark legislation that will advance Kentucky as a model for spirits shipping around the country and provide parity through other key initiatives that will create jobs and enhance tourism.
Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, received the award in 2016 for passing landmark tourism legislation that authorizes cocktail sales at distilleries.
2020 Award Recipient
Senate Minority Floor Leader Morgan McGarvey, D-Louisville, received the award in 2020 for his bold leadership in championing landmark legislation that will advance Kentucky as a model for spirits shipping around the country and provide parity through other key initiatives that will create jobs and enhance tourism.
2022 Award Recipient
2020 Award Recipient
2017 Award Recipient
Sens. Thayer and Schickel, and Reps. Koenig and McCoy, in 2022 for legislation to legalize the popular private barrel selection program and sales of barrel-aged and batched cocktails, allow distillers to sell exclusive bottles at their gift shops, open a satellite tasting room and offer complimentary samples and sell bottles and fairs, festivals and farmer’s markets.
House Majority Whip Chad McCoy, R-Bardstown, received the award in 2020 for his bold leadership in championing landmark legislation that will advance Kentucky as a model for spirits shipping around the country and provide parity through other key initiatives that will create jobs and enhance tourism.
Rep. Chad McCoy, R-Bardstown, received the award in 2017 for his skilled leadership in passing legislation that gives visitors the ability to ship bottles home, and their staunch defense of key tourism development incentives during tense budget negotiations
2022 Award Recipient
2020 Award Recipient
Sens. Thayer and Schickel, and Reps. Koenig and McCoy, in 2022 for legislation to legalize the popular private barrel selection program and sales of barrel-aged and batched cocktails, allow distillers to sell exclusive bottles at their gift shops, open a satellite tasting room and offer complimentary samples and sell bottles and fairs, festivals and farmer’s markets.
Rep. Adam Koenig, R-Erlanger, received the award in 2020 for his bold leadership in championing landmark legislation that will advance Kentucky as a model for spirits shipping around the country and provide parity through other key initiatives that will create jobs and enhance tourism.
2018 Award Recipient
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer received the award in 2018 for providing leadership in elevating tourism and collaborating with the KDA to develop partnerships with Louisville’s culinary and cosmopolitan endeavors, as well as other Bourbon-related opportunities.
2018 Award Recipient
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell received the award in 2018 for championing Kentucky Bourbon at the federal level, including passage of the first decrease of the federal tax on spirits in generations.
2016 Award Recipient
Rep. Linda Belcher, D-Shepherdsville, received the award in 2016 for passing landmark tourism legislation that authorizes cocktail sales at distilleries.
2015 Award Recipient
Rep. Dennis Keene, D-Wilder, received the award in 2015 for his determined six-year effort in passing legislation that requires ignition interlocks for drunken drivers.
2023 Award Recipient
2014 Award Recipient
Sens. Robert Stivers, Damon Thayer, Julie Raque Adams and Chris McDaniel, along with Gov. Andy Beshear and Reps. David Osborne, Jason Petrie and Rachel Roberts were recognized for their leadership on 2023 landmark legislation to sunset the state’s discriminatory barrel taxes across 20 years. This phase-out will put Kentucky on a level playing field with all other states that seek to attract new and expanding distilleries, along with their jobs, investment dollars and tourism vibrancy. Through carefully brokered compromises with counties where Bourbon barrels age, these elected leaders have also ensured funding for local schools and fire departments is protected.
Senate President Robert Stivers, R- Manchester, received the award in 2014 for his bold leadership that led to the passage of several of the KDA’s top priorities, including the Bourbon Barrel Reinvestment Tax Credit.
2012 Award Recipient
Gov. Steve Beshear received the award in 2012 for his leadership and global support of the industry.
2010 Award Recipient
Rep. Susan Westrom, D-Lexington, received the first “100 Proof Award” for her tireless efforts in the 2010 legislative session to modernize Kentucky’s Bourbon sampling laws.
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