Kentucky Alcohol Industry Overview
Total Companies
Total Filings
Federal Permits
Regulatory Model
About Kentucky's Beverage Alcohol Industry
Kentucky is a license state with 699 companies that have submitted TTB label approvals. The state accounts for 24,786 Certificate of Label Approval (COLA) filings across 11 product categories.
As a license state, Kentucky allows private businesses to distribute and sell alcohol through a licensing system. This generally provides more flexibility for brands entering the market, though licensees must still comply with state-specific regulations on distribution, pricing, and retail operations.
The most active category in Kentucky is Whiskey, representing 44.6% of all filings. For service providers — including label printers, compliance consultants, co-packers, and branding agencies — this data reveals where new brand activity is concentrated and which segments are growing.
Category Breakdown
Top Companies in Kentucky
| # | Company | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SAZERAC NORTH AMERICA, INC. | 3,394 |
| 2 | JIM BEAM BRANDS CO. | 1,961 |
| 3 | STRONG SPIRITS, INC. | 1,326 |
| 4 | BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY, INC. | 1,319 |
| 5 | HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERIES, INC. | 1,188 |
| 6 | THE BARDSTOWN BOURBON COMPANY, LLC | 879 |
| 7 | BROWN-FORMAN CORPORATION | 815 |
| 8 | BLUEGRASS BOTTLING LLC | 611 |
| 9 | AGAINST THE GRAIN LLC | 577 |
| 10 | WHISKEY THIEF DISTILLING COMPANY, INC. | 432 |
Top Brands in Kentucky
| # | Brand | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JIM BEAM | 422 |
| 2 | DEKUYPER | 338 |
| 3 | BURNETT'S | 269 |
| 4 | MAKER'S MARK | 255 |
| 5 | PAUL MASSON | 220 |
| 6 | AGAINST THE GRAIN | 214 |
| 7 | GOOD TIMES | 200 |
| 8 | BOLS | 196 |
| 9 | WOODFORD RESERVE | 191 |
| 10 | TAAKA | 191 |