Press Releases - Department of Liquor Control

Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services Opens Registration for Lotteries Providing Opportunities for County Residents and Licensees to Purchase Highly Sought Spirits

For Immediate Release: Monday, December 4, 2023

Montgomery County’s Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) has opened registration for limited availability whiskey lotteries that provide opportunities to purchase highly sought spirits. These lotteries are open only to Montgomery County residents and licensees. ABS expects to release more than 400 bottles for purchase in the lotteries.

Among the spirits that County residents will have an opportunity to purchase are Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year, Old Forester 2022 Birthday Bourbon and several rare releases from the Willett Distillery.

The lotteries are in addition to the annual lotteries that ABS holds in March, which are open to Maryland residents in addition to Montgomery County residents and licensees. ABS lotteries are free to enter, but have residency requirements. Entrants must be 21 or over.

Registration for the lotteries closes at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9. After the lotteries close, a random drawing will be conducted. The winning numbers will be posted on the ABS website at noon on Tuesday, Dec. 19.

Winners will be able to purchase their bottle from a designated store from Monday, Jan. 8, through Sunday, Jan. 28.

Each resident entering the lotteries will be able to select their top preferences from the list of bottles available. Bottle counts are listed on the registration forms. Details on how to enter the lottery, including an entry form, are available on the ABS website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/abs/lottery.

A second lottery will be open to Montgomery County alcohol license holders who are authorized to sell spirits on their premises. The licensee lottery will run at the same time as the resident lottery and will boost availability of allocated items available by the glass. Licensees can enter at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/abs/lottery.

“This year has been outstanding for highly allocated products, and we are pleased to be able to offer a special, second lottery for Montgomery County residents and license holders only.” said ABS Director Kathie Durbin. “As always, the lotteries are designed to offer fair pricing and equitable access, including the chance to sip rare spirits at local restaurants.”

ABS is the alcohol wholesaler of beer, wine and spirits for Montgomery County. It operates 27 retail stores throughout the County. In addition, ABS manages alcohol licensing, enforcement and education for more than 1,000 businesses. Generating more than $35 million in net income annually, its profits are used to pay down County debt with a large portion deposited in the general fund to pay for resident services that would otherwise be funded by County tax dollars. Follow ABS on Facebook and X. 

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Release ID: 23-531
Media Contact: Jocelyn Rawat, 202-604-7289