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.
Help keep America’s only native spirit alive by joining our collaborative efforts to promote, protect and grow our iconic industry.
Check here for policy issues of importance.
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.
Here are just a few of the landmark bills passed by the Kentucky General Assembly with the KDA’s full support.
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.
2020 Award Recipient
2017 Award Recipient
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
2020 Award Recipient
2016 Award Recipient
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.
2020 Award Recipient
2017 Award Recipient
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
2020 Award Recipient
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.
2014 Award Recipient
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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