Claude Setup

Choose a Claude Path

Path	Authentication	Best for	Status
Claude custom connector	OAuth	Claude.ai and Claude Desktop connector UI on supported paid Claude plans	Preferred connector path
Claude Code or Agent SDK	API key in HTTP headers	Self-serve developer workflows and fallback setup	Supported
Claude API MCP connector	Bearer token parameter	Server-side applications using Anthropic’s Messages API MCP connector	Supported when you provide a COLA Cloud API key as the bearer token

Claude Code with API Key

Create a COLA Cloud API key in Dashboard > API Keys, then add this to your project .mcp.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "colacloud": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://mcp.colacloud.us/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer ${COLA_API_KEY}"
      }
    }
  }
}

Then export your key before starting Claude Code:

export COLA_API_KEY=cola_xxxx

Use prompts like:

“Use COLA Cloud to find California wine approvals from the last 90 days.”
“Fetch details for the first TTB ID returned by that search and cite the record.”
“Draft filters for a monthly alert about new imported tequila approvals; I will save it in the COLA Cloud web app.”

Claude Custom Connector with OAuth

Claude’s remote custom connector UI is the path for Claude.ai and current Claude Desktop remote connectors on supported paid Claude plans. It uses OAuth rather than a static COLA Cloud API key.

Open Connectors

In Claude, open Customize > Connectors. Team and Enterprise owners can add organization connectors from organization settings.

Add a custom connector

Choose a custom web connector and enter:

https://mcp.colacloud.us/mcp

Authenticate

Complete the OAuth flow and grant the requested COLA Cloud scopes.

Enable per conversation

In a chat, use Claude’s tools/connectors menu to enable the COLA Cloud connector for that conversation.

Claude Desktop remote connectors are configured through Claude’s Connectors UI. Current Anthropic guidance says remote MCP servers are not connected by adding them directly to claude_desktop_config.json. The local Desktop JSON mechanism is for local MCP servers and desktop extensions.

Claude API MCP Connector

If you call Claude through the Anthropic API, pass the COLA Cloud MCP endpoint as a remote MCP server and use your COLA Cloud API key as the bearer token for that server.

import anthropic

client = anthropic.Anthropic()

response = client.beta.messages.create(
    model="claude-opus-4-7",
    max_tokens=1000,
    messages=[
        {
            "role": "user",
            "content": "Use COLA Cloud to find recent Kentucky bourbon approvals.",
        }
    ],
    mcp_servers=[
        {
            "type": "url",
            "url": "https://mcp.colacloud.us/mcp",
            "name": "colacloud",
            "authorization_token": "cola_xxxx",
        }
    ],
    tools=[{"type": "mcp_toolset", "mcp_server_name": "colacloud"}],
    betas=["mcp-client-2025-11-20"],
)

Team and Enterprise Notes

Owners may need to add the connector at the organization level before members can connect.
Members still authenticate individually; the connector only receives data allowed by that user’s COLA Cloud account.
The public MCP server exposes six read-only tools to Claude and other clients. It cannot create saved searches, change billing, or modify records.
Research modes can invoke connector tools automatically and consume your shared COLA Cloud quota. Review tool access and query scope before broad research.
Create durable alerts in Dashboard > Saved Searches in the COLA Cloud web app.

Troubleshooting

Symptom	What to check
Claude Code cannot connect	Confirm `.mcp.json` uses `"type": "http"` and that `COLA_API_KEY` is exported in the same shell.
Claude custom connector asks for OAuth	Expected. The hosted Claude connector UI does not use static API-key headers.
OAuth connection fails after login	The OAuth subject may not be linked to your COLA Cloud account yet.
Tools are not called	Explicitly say “Use COLA Cloud” and enable the connector for the conversation.

Getting Started

API Reference

SDKs & Tools

Guides

Data Products

Product Updates

Regulatory Reference (Experimental)

Trust

Choose a Claude Path

Claude Code with API Key

Claude Custom Connector with OAuth

Claude API MCP Connector

Team and Enterprise Notes

Troubleshooting

​Choose a Claude Path

​Claude Code with API Key

​Claude Custom Connector with OAuth

​Claude API MCP Connector

​Team and Enterprise Notes

​Troubleshooting

Choose a Claude Path

Claude Code with API Key

Claude Custom Connector with OAuth

Claude API MCP Connector

Team and Enterprise Notes

Troubleshooting