Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill that would allow online sales of mead, spirits and cider, known as direct-to-consumer sales (DTC).
“With this legislation, we are leveling the playing field for all distilleries by allowing them to sell directly to consumers. This creates new opportunities for local businesses and strengthens our economy here in Brooklyn and across the state. I toast to Governor Kathy Hochul for signing this bill,” said State Senator Andrew Gounardes, praising a number of distilleries in his Brooklyn district.
Until now, craft businesses were only allowed to sell their products online if they were classified as beer or wine, while distilled products could only be sold in person or in bulk to retailers.
For companies like Kings County Distillery, this move opens the doors to online sales, but also to tourists who want to visit their historic Navy Yard facility and may have never heard of their brand.
“A DTC law presents us with a huge opportunity to share New York-made spirits with New York-grown produce, attract more visitors to our tasting room, and grow business and national awareness of great Brooklyn products,” said owner Sebastian Orja.
Orja says his brand is offering collections of its whiskey in gift boxes, and he hopes these will be a big hit this holiday season, with the law set to come into effect in 90 days from this week.
“The only business we can do directly with consumers right now is when they come here. So we think about that versus everyone being online and everyone being online,” he said.
For Josh Morton, owner of Barrow’s Intense Ginger NY Tasting Room in Industry City — a venue that specializes in alcohol made with New York ingredients — the change would allow him to expand his online presence and allow tourists who have tried the ginger liquor to continue buying from him, even from out of state.
“Since we opened the tasting room six years ago, we have only been able to sell the drinks to end users in the tasting room, so if your local liquor store doesn’t carry the drinks, you’re out of luck,” he said.
Morton believes the bill could boost New York’s entire craft industry and give it national reach.
“There are about a dozen distilleries in Brooklyn, and they will easily be able to sell to the upstate and the rest of the country. So this will really expand our markets beyond the local scope where most of us operate,” he said.
Both hope to be able to accept online orders starting Thanksgiving. Governor Kathy Hochul has signed a law that allows the online sale of mead, spirits and ciders, so-called direct-to-consumer sales (DTC).
“With this legislation, we are leveling the playing field for all distilleries by allowing them to sell directly to consumers. This creates new opportunities for local businesses and strengthens our economy here in Brooklyn and across the state. I toast to Governor Kathy Hochul for signing this bill,” said State Senator Andrew Gounardes, praising a number of distilleries in his Brooklyn district.
Until now, craft businesses were only allowed to sell their products online if they were classified as beer or wine, while distilled products could only be sold in person or in bulk to retailers.
For companies like Kings County Distillery, this move opens the doors to online sales, but also to tourists who want to visit their historic Navy Yard facility and may have never heard of their brand.
“A DTC law presents us with a huge opportunity to share New York-made spirits with New York-grown produce, attract more visitors to our tasting room, and grow business and national awareness of great Brooklyn products,” said owner Sebastian Orja.
Orja says his brand is offering collections of its whiskey in gift boxes, and he hopes these will be a big hit this holiday season, with the law set to come into effect in 90 days from this week.
“The only business we can do directly with consumers right now is when they come here. So we think about that versus everyone being online and everyone being online,” he said.
For Josh Morton, owner of Barrow’s Intense Ginger NY Tasting Room in Industry City — a venue that specializes in alcohol made with New York ingredients — the change would allow him to expand his online presence and allow tourists who have tried the ginger liquor to continue buying from him, even from out of state.
“Since we opened the tasting room six years ago, we have only been able to sell the drinks to end users in the tasting room, so if your local liquor store doesn’t carry the drinks, you’re out of luck,” he said.
Morton believes the bill could boost New York’s entire craft industry and give it national reach.
“There are about a dozen distilleries in Brooklyn, and they will easily be able to sell to the upstate and the rest of the country. So this will really expand our markets beyond the local scope where most of us operate,” he said.
Both say they hope to begin accepting online orders by Thanksgiving.
