§ 271. Manufacturer's or rectifier's license

(a)(1) The Board of Liquor and Lottery may grant a manufacturer's or rectifier's license upon application and payment of the fee provided in section 204 of this title that permits the license holder to operate a facility that manufactures or rectifies:

(A) malt beverages;

(B) vinous beverages and fortified wines; or

(C) spirits and fortified wines.

(2) A manufacturer or rectifier shall obtain a separate license for each facility at which it manufactures or rectifies alcoholic beverages.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in section 224 of this title and subsections (d)-(f) of this section:

(1) spirits and fortified wine may be manufactured for sale to the Board of Liquor and Lottery or for export, or both; and

(2) malt beverages and vinous beverages may be manufactured or rectified for sale to packagers or wholesale dealers, or for export, or both.

(c) A licensed manufacturer of vinous beverages or fortified wines may receive from another manufacturer licensed in or outside this State bulk shipments of vinous beverages to rectify with the licensee's own product, provided that the vinous beverages or fortified wines produced by the licensed manufacturer may contain no more than 25 percent imported vinous beverages.

(d)(1) The Board of Liquor and Lottery may grant to a licensed manufacturer or rectifier a first-class license or a third-class license, or both, permitting the licensee to sell alcoholic beverages to the public at an establishment located at the manufacturer's or rectifier's licensed facility, provided the manufacturer or rectifier owns or has direct control over that establishment.

(2) A licensed manufacturer of malt beverages may operate up to two licensed establishments pursuant to this subsection that are located at the licensed manufacturing facility or on property that is owned by the licensee and is contiguous with the parcel of land on which the licensed manufacturing facility is located, provided the manufacturer owns or has direct control over both establishments.

[Subdivision (d)(3) repealed effective July 1, 2020.]

(3) Notwithstanding subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, a manufacturer or rectifier that, on July 1, 2019, is operating at a location separate from its licensed manufacturing facility an establishment for which it was granted a first-class license or a third-class license, or both, before July 1, 2019 may continue to operate that establishment, and the local control commissioners and the Board may annually renew the licenses in effect for that establishment on July 1, 2019.

(e) The Board of Liquor and Lottery may grant a licensed manufacturer of malt beverages a second-class license permitting the licensee to sell alcoholic beverages to the public anywhere on the premises of the licensed manufacturing facility.

(f)(1) A licensed manufacturer or rectifier may serve alcoholic beverages with or without charge at an event held at the licensed manufacturing or rectifying facility or at a location on property that is owned by the licensee and is contiguous with the parcel of land on which the licensed facility is located, provided the licensee at least five days before the event gives the Division written notice of the event, including details required by the Division.

(2) Any beverages not manufactured by the licensee that are served at the event shall be purchased on invoice from a licensed manufacturer or wholesale dealer or the Board of Liquor and Lottery. (Added 2017, No. 83, § 56; amended 2018, No. 1 (Sp. Sess.), § 56; 2019, No. 73, § 49; 2019, No. 73, § 50, eff. July 1, 2020.)