Labels & Compliance
Alcohol is one of the most regulated products you can sell, and that's a big part of why creators work with HANDLED. These guides explain the rules in plain English. They cover what a TTB COLA label approval is and how long it typically takes, what has to appear on a spirits label, and how your brand name and label design fit within those rules. They also cover the legal side of selling: whether you need a license to sell your own whiskey, how age verification works when you sell online, and how direct-to-consumer shipping keeps your bottle legal. These guides are educational and are not legal advice. HANDLED's licensed partners handle the regulated steps. Start with the COLA explainer, then read the guide that matches where you are in your launch. Content for adults 21+.
Producing · Label approval
TTB COLA Label Approval: What It Is and How to Get One
A TTB COLA is the Certificate of Label Approval that says a specific spirits label meets federal rules. Interstate spirits cannot ship without one, and on a Handled drop the licensed producer files it.
Producing · Label requirements
TTB Spirits Label Requirements: What Goes on a Liquor Label
Brand name, class and type, alcohol content, net contents, bottler name and address, and the government warning. Here is what every spirits label needs and what is left for you to design. 21+.
Producing · Label approval
How Long Does TTB COLA Approval Take?
TTB COLA approval often lands in weeks when the label is clean — not months of mystery. On a Handled drop, the licensed producer files it. Here is the real timeline. 21+.
Selling · The legal side
Sell Alcohol Online Legally: Creator Guide
The rules around selling spirits online are real — here is the plain-English version, and the part you do not have to handle yourself.
Selling · Age verification
How Age Verification Works When You Sell Your Spirit Online
Age verification for a creator spirits drop happens in three layers — and Handled handles the parts that carry legal risk, so you never touch a customer's ID.
Producing · Label & Packaging
Design Your Liquor Label: Creator Control
The name, the art, and the story are yours. The legal approval isn't your problem. Here's how a creator's bottle label actually comes together.
Selling · Shipping
DTC Alcohol Shipping Explained: How Your Bottle Ships Legally
Getting a glass bottle of spirits to a doorstep legally is the least glamorous part of a drop — and the part you will be happiest to never touch.
Producing · Naming & Branding
Name Your Spirit Brand (Label Approval)
A practical guide to naming your spirit so it's distinctive, available, and clears TTB label approval.
Producing · Licensing
Do You Need a License to Sell Your Own Whiskey?
Someone needs a permit. On a creator drop, the licensed partner holds it — you don't.
FAQ
What is a COLA?
A Certificate of Label Approval from the TTB. A spirit needs one before it can be sold across state lines.
Do I need my own liquor license?
With HANDLED, licensed partners produce and sell the spirit. The licensing guide explains how that works.
How do buyers prove they're 21+?
Orders go through age verification at checkout and an adult signature at delivery. The age verification guide has the details.
Can I design my own label?
Yes. You control the design, within TTB labeling rules.