Illinois liquor license types, in plain words

1A Retailer (bar, restaurant or store)

A retailer's license shall allow the licensee to sell and offer for sale at retail, only in the premises specified in the license, alcoholic liquor for use or consumption, but not for resale in any form.

The state retail license every bar, restaurant and liquor store holds; the city or county license says what it can actually pour.

1B Caterer

A caterer retailer license shall allow the holder to serve alcoholic liquors as an incidental part of a food service that serves prepared meals which excludes the serving of snacks as the primary meal, either on or off-site whether licensed or unlicensed.

Caterer pouring at events it feeds.

3I Non-resident dealer (under 500,000 gal)

A non-resident dealer's license shall permit such licensee to ship into and warehouse alcoholic liquor into this State from any point outside of this State, and to sell such alcoholic liquor to Illinois licensed foreign importers and importing distributors and to no one else in this State.

Out-of-state supplier shipping into Illinois; no premises to call on.

Not in the feed: nobody sells to these the way they sell to a bar or store.

2B Importing distributor

An importing distributor's license may be issued to and held by those only who are duly licensed distributors, upon the filing of an application by a duly licensed distributor, with the State Commission and the State Commission shall, without the payment of any fee, immediately issue such importing distributor's license to the applicant, which shall allow the importation of alcoholic liquor by the licensee into this State from any point in the United States outside this State, and the purchase of alcoholic liquor in barrels, casks, or other bulk containers and the bottling of such alcoholic liquors before resale thereof.

Distributor that brings product in from other states.

Not in the feed: nobody sells to these the way they sell to a bar or store.

3U Winery shipper (under 250,000 gal)

A winery shipper's license shall allow a person with a first-class or second-class wine manufacturer's license, a first-class or second-class wine-maker's license, or a limited wine manufacturer's license or who is licensed to make wine under the laws of another state to ship wine made by that licensee directly to a resident of this State who is 21 years of age or older for that resident's personal use and not for resale.

Winery, usually out of state, shipping direct to consumers; no premises to call on.

Not in the feed: nobody sells to these the way they sell to a bar or store.

1E Winery tasting room

A wine-maker's premises license shall allow a licensee that concurrently holds a first-class wine-maker's license to sell and offer for sale at retail in the premises specified in such license not more than 50,000 gallons of the first-class wine-maker's wine that is made at the first-class wine-maker's licensed premises per year for use or consumption, but not for resale in any form.

A winery's retail room.

1H Airline

An airplane license shall permit the licensee to import alcoholic liquors into this State from any point in the United States outside this State and to store such alcoholic liquors in this State; to make wholesale purchases of alcoholic liquors directly from manufacturers, foreign importers, distributors, and importing distributors from within or outside this State; and to store such alcoholic liquors in this State; provided that the above powers may be exercised only in connection with the importation, purchase, or storage of alcoholic liquors to be sold or dispensed on an airplane.

Airline onboard service; no premises to call on.

2C Foreign importer

A foreign importer's license shall permit such licensee to purchase alcoholic liquor from Illinois licensed non-resident dealers only, and to import alcoholic liquor other than in bulk from any point outside the United States and to sell such alcoholic liquor to Illinois licensed importing distributors and to no one else in Illinois.

Importer of foreign product, selling to importing distributors only.

Not in the feed: nobody sells to these the way they sell to a bar or store.

2G Distributor (under 4.5M gal)

A distributor's license shall allow (i) the wholesale purchase and storage of alcoholic liquors and sale of alcoholic liquors to licensees in this State and to persons without the State, as may be permitted by law.

Wholesale distributor in the under-4.5-million-gallon fee tier.

3A Distiller

Class 1. A Distiller may make sales and deliveries of alcoholic liquor to distillers, rectifiers, importing distributors, distributors, and non-beverage users and to no other licensees.

Full-scale distillery.

3C Brewer

Class 3. A Brewer may make sales and deliveries of beer to importing distributors and distributors and may make sales as authorized under subsection (e) of Section 6-4 of this Act, including any alcoholic liquor that subsection (e) of Section 6-4 authorizes a brewer to sell in its original package only to a non-licensee for pick-up by a non-licensee either within the interior of the brewery premises or outside of the brewery premises at a curb-side or parking lot adjacent to the brewery premises, subject to any local ordinance.

Brewery selling to distributors, with to-go sales at the door.

3D First-class wine manufacturer

Class 4. A first class wine-manufacturer may make sales and deliveries of up to 50,000 gallons of wine to manufacturers, importing distributors and distributors, and to no other licensees.

Winery under 50,000 gallons selling to the trade.

3F First-class wine maker

Class 6. A first-class wine-maker's license shall allow the manufacture of up to 50,000 gallons of wine per year and the storage and sale of such wine to distributors in the State and to persons without the State, as may be permitted by law.

Small winery, up to 50,000 gallons.

3J Non-resident dealer (over 500,000 gal)

A non-resident dealer's license shall permit such licensee to ship into and warehouse alcoholic liquor into this State from any point outside of this State, and to sell such alcoholic liquor to Illinois licensed foreign importers and importing distributors and to no one else in this State.

Large out-of-state supplier; no premises to call on.

Not in the feed: nobody sells to these the way they sell to a bar or store.

3W Winery shipper (500,000 gal and over)

A winery shipper's license shall allow a person with a first-class or second-class wine manufacturer's license, a first-class or second-class wine-maker's license, or a limited wine manufacturer's license or who is licensed to make wine under the laws of another state to ship wine made by that licensee directly to a resident of this State who is 21 years of age or older for that resident's personal use and not for resale.

Large winery shipping direct to consumers.

Not in the feed: nobody sells to these the way they sell to a bar or store.

3X Craft distiller

Class 9. A craft distiller license, which may only be held by a class 1 craft distiller licensee or class 2 craft distiller licensee but not held by both a class 1 craft distiller licensee and a class 2 craft distiller licensee, shall grant all rights conveyed by either: (i) a class 1 craft distiller license if the craft distiller holds a class 1 craft distiller license; or (ii) a class 2 craft distiller licensee if the craft distiller holds a class 2 craft distiller license.

Craft distillery umbrella license; paired with a 6Y or class 2 craft distiller license.

3Z Class 2 brewer (under 3.72M gal)

Class 13. A class 2 brewer license, which may only be issued to a licensed brewer or licensed non-resident dealer, shall allow the manufacture of up to 3,720,000 gallons of beer per year provided that the class 2 brewer licensee does not manufacture more than a combined 3,720,000 gallons of beer per year and is not a member of or affiliated with, directly or indirectly, a manufacturer that produces more than 3,720,000 gallons of beer per year.

Mid-size brewery that can self-distribute some of its beer.

3Y Class 1 brewer (under 930,000 gal)

Class 12. A class 1 brewer license, which may only be issued to a licensed brewer or licensed non-resident dealer, shall allow the manufacture of up to 930,000 gallons of beer per year provided that the class 1 brewer licensee does not manufacture more than a combined 930,000 gallons of beer per year and is not a member of or affiliated with, directly or indirectly, a manufacturer that produces more than 930,000 gallons of beer per year.

Craft brewery under 930,000 gallons.

7Y Class 3 brewer (taproom brewery)

Class 14. A class 3 brewer license, which may be issued to a brewer or a non-resident dealer, shall allow the manufacture of no more than 465,000 gallons of beer per year and no more than 155,000 gallons at a single brewery premises, and shall allow the sale of no more than 6,200 gallons of beer from each in-state or out-of-state class 3 brewery premises, or 18,600 gallons in the aggregate, to retail licensees, class 1 brewers, class 2 brewers, and class 3 brewers.

Small brewery with limited self-distribution to retailers.

6Y Class 1 craft distiller (under 50,000 gal)

Class 10. A class 1 craft distiller license, which may only be issued to a licensed craft distiller or licensed non-resident dealer, shall allow the manufacture of up to 50,000 gallons of spirits per year provided that the class 1 craft distiller licensee does not manufacture more than a combined 50,000 gallons of spirits per year and is not a member of or affiliated with, directly or indirectly, a manufacturer that produces more than 50,000 gallons of spirits per year.

Small craft distillery.

6X Class 3 craft distiller (self-distributing)

Class 15. A class 3 craft distiller license, which may be issued to a distiller or a non-resident dealer, shall allow the manufacture of no more than 100,000 gallons of spirits per year and shall allow the sale of spirits from the class 3 craft distiller's in-state or out-of-state class 3 craft distillery premises to retail licensees, class 3 brewers, and class 3 craft distillers.

Craft distillery that can sell straight to retailers.

1C Brew pub

A brew pub license shall allow the licensee to only (i) manufacture up to 155,000 gallons of beer per year only on the premises specified in the license, (ii) make sales of the beer manufactured on the premises or, with the approval of the State Commission, beer manufactured on another brew pub licensed premises that is wholly owned and operated by the same licensee to importing distributors, distributors, and non-licensees for use and consumption, (iii) store the beer upon the premises.

Brewpub; brews and pours on site.

1G Boat

A boat license shall allow the sale of alcoholic liquor in individual drinks on any passenger boat regularly operated as a common carrier on navigable waters in this State or on any riverboat operated under the Illinois Gambling Act, which boat or riverboat maintains a public dining room or restaurant thereon.

Passenger boat or riverboat casino bar.