"Bourbon maker Jim Beam is halting production at one of its distilleries in Kentucky for at least a year as the whiskey industry navigates tariffs from the Trump administration and slumping demand for a product that needs years of aging before it is ready. Jim Beam said the decision to pause bourbon making at its Clermont location in 2026 will give the company time to invest in improvements at the distillery."
"Whiskey makers are dealing with back-and-forth arguments over tariffs in Europe and in Canada, where a boycott started after the Trump administration suggested annexing the country into the U.S. Overall exports of American spirits fell 9% in the second quarter of 2025 compared to a year ago, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. The most dramatic decrease came in U.S. spirits exports to Canada, which fell 85% in the April-through-June quarter."
Jim Beam will halt bourbon production at its Clermont, Kentucky distillery in 2026 for at least a year to allow investment in distillery improvements, while bottling, warehousing, and the James B. Beam visitors center and restaurant will remain open. The company’s larger Boston, Kentucky distillery will continue operating. Company officials are assessing production levels and consulting the distillery’s union about potential layoffs or reductions. Bourbon requires multi-year barrel aging, with Jim Beam’s flagship needing at least four years. Tariffs and a Canada boycott have driven a 9% drop in U.S. spirits exports in Q2 2025 and an 85% fall to Canada.
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