Distiller Representatives and Brokerages

To conduct business in this state, Distillers of spirituous liquor are required to have a Federal Basic Permit, a Certificate of Authority and a Distiller Permit. The distiller may also have a Distiller Representative, who also requires a permit. The Distiller Representative can show products to the ABC boards for listing locally.

It is required that the distiller be represented by a Brokerage, who is commonly referred to as a North Carolina Broker (see below for a list of active NC Brokers).

New and existing Brokerages are required to have a Certificate of Authority.

The broker, along with their sales force, must apply for and hold a Broker Representative Permit approved and issued by the NC ABC Commission. The broker is responsible for maintaining an adequate supply of their spirituous liquor at the State ABC Warehouse. On average, approximately 3.3 million cases of spirituous liquor is received and shipped out of the warehouse to the local ABC boards annually.

For each distiller, the Broker Representative is responsible for following specific procedures for a new company to sell distilled spirits before the ABC Commission can approve products for sale in the State. Once approved at the ABC Commission’s annual listing meeting, the Broker Representative can show products to the ABC boards for listing locally.

Effective September 1, 2002, Distiller Representatives may have limited contact with Mixed-Beverage ABC Permittees as outlined in the "Guidelines for the Solicitation of Mixed Beverage Permittees by Distiller Representatives in North Carolina."

Active North Carolina Brokerages as of 9/2/2010
Select a broker below for contact information, and to view a list of suppliers that they represent.

View contact information for North Carolina brokers.