§ 58. Cider producers' or wholesalers' license. 1. Any person may apply to the liquor authority for a cider producers' or wholesalers' license as provided for in this subdivision. Such application shall be in writing and shall contain such information as the liquor authority shall require. Such application shall be accompanied by a check or draft for the amount required by this subdivision for such license. If the liquor authority shall grant the application it shall issue a license in such form as shall be determined by its rules. A license issued under this subdivision shall authorize the licensee to manufacture cider within the licensed premises in this state for sale in bottles, barrels or casks to beer, wine and liquor retail licensee and/or to sell cider at wholesale from the licensed premises to such licensees and to holders of licenses under this section in bottles, barrels or casks and to sell and deliver cider to persons outside the state pursuant to the laws of the place of such sale or delivery. The annual fee for such a license shall be one hundred twenty-five dollars; provided, however, that the annual fee for a farm cidery license shall be seventy-five dollars. The provisions contained in section sixty-seven of this chapter shall apply to all licenses issued pursuant to this article.

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2. (a) Any person licensed pursuant to subdivision one of this section may conduct cider tastings of New York state labelled ciders in establishments licensed pursuant to section sixty-three of this chapter to sell alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption. Such cider producer or wholesaler may charge a fee of not more than twenty-five cents for each cider sample tasted. The liquor authority shall promulgate rules and regulations relating to the conduct of such tastings.

(b) Any person licensed pursuant to subdivision one of this section may conduct cider tastings of New York state labelled ciders and apply to the liquor authority for a permit to sell cider produced by such cider producer or wholesaler, by the bottle, during such tastings in establishments licensed pursuant to section sixty-four of this chapter to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises. Such cider producer or wholesaler may charge a fee of not more than twenty-five cents for each cider sample tasted. The liquor authority shall promulgate rules and regulations relating to the conduct of tastings.

(c) Cider tastings shall be conducted subject to the following limitations:

(i) cider tastings shall be conducted by an official agent, representative or solicitor of one or more cider producers or wholesalers. Such agent, representative or solicitor shall be physically present at all times during the conduct of the tastings; and

(ii) any liability stemming from a right of action resulting from a cider tasting as authorized pursuant to this subdivision and in accordance with the provisions of sections 11-100 and 11-101 of the general obligations law, shall accrue to the cider producer or wholesaler licensee.

3. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, a licensed cider wholesaler may apply to the liquor authority for a permit to sell New York state labelled cider by the bottle and conduct cider tastings at the state fair, at recognized county fairs and at farmers markets operated on a not-for-profit basis. As a condition of such permit, an agent, representative or solicitor from the cider wholesaler shall be present at the time of sale or tastings.

3-a. A licensed cider producer producing New York state labelled cider may:

(a) sell such cider to licensed farm distillers, farm wineries, farm cideries and farm breweries. All such cider sold by the licensee shall be securely sealed and have attached thereto a label as shall be required by section one hundred seven-a of this chapter;

(b) conduct tastings at the licensed premises of such cider or any other New York state labeled cider;

(c) sell such cider at retail for consumption off the premises at the state fair, at recognized county fairs and at farmers markets operated on a not-for-profit basis;

(d) sell and conduct tastings of such cider at retail for consumption on the premises of a restaurant, conference center, inn, bed and breakfast or hotel business owned and operated by the licensee in or adjacent to its farm cidery. A licensee who operates a restaurant, conference center, inn, bed and breakfast or hotel pursuant to such authority shall comply with all applicable provisions of this chapter which relate to licenses to sell cider at retail for consumption on the premises;

(e) apply for a permit to conduct tastings away from the licensed premises of such cider. Such permit shall be valid throughout the state and may be issued on an annual basis or for individual events. Each such permit and the exercise of the privilege granted thereby shall be subject to such rules and conditions of the authority as it deems necessary. Tastings shall be conducted subject to the following conditions:

(i) tastings shall be conducted by an official agent, representative or solicitor of the licensee. Such agent, representative or solicitor shall be physically present at all times during the conduct of the tastings; and

(ii) any liability stemming from a right of action resulting from a tasting of cider as authorized herein and in accordance with the provisions of sections 11-100 and 11-101 of the general obligations law, shall accrue to the licensee.

(f) if it holds a tasting permit issued pursuant to paragraph (e) of this subdivision, apply to the authority for a permit to sell such cider, for consumption off the premises, during such tastings in premises licensed under sections sixty-four, sixty-four-a, eighty-one and eighty-one-a of this chapter. Each such permit and the exercise of the privilege granted thereby shall be subject to such rules and conditions of the authority as it deems necessary.

4. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, any one or more cider producer or wholesaler licensee, singly or jointly, may apply to the liquor authority for a license or licenses to sell cider at retail for consumption off the premises. The duration of such license shall be coextensive with the duration of such licensee's cider producer or wholesaler license, and the fee therefor shall be six hundred forty dollars if such retail premises is located in cities having a population of one million or more; in cities having less than one million population and more than one hundred thousand, three hundred twenty dollars; and elsewhere, the sum of one hundred sixty dollars. Such license shall entitle the holder thereof to sell at retail for consumption off the premises any New York state labelled cider. Such license shall also entitle the holder thereof to conduct cider tastings on such licensed premises and charge for such tastings. Not more than five such licenses shall be issued to any licensed cider producer or wholesaler. All other provisions of this chapter relative to licenses to sell cider at retail for consumption off the premises shall apply so far as applicable to such application. The liquor authority is hereby authorized to adopt such rules as it may deem necessary to carry out the purpose of this subdivision, provided that all licenses issued pursuant to this subdivision shall be subject to the same rules and regulations as are applicable to the sale of cider at retail for consumption off the premises of the cider producer or wholesaler licensee.

5. A cider producer shall manufacture at least fifty gallons of cider annually.