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Pototan

(2,998 posts)
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 06:13 AM Dec 21

Jim Beam Shutting Down Bourbon Distillery in Kentucky

Jim Beam, one of the largest makers of American whiskey globally, is shutting down bourbon production at one of its Kentucky distilleries for a year.

The move comes amid President Donald Trump’s trade war with Canada, which has contributed to a significant decline in U.S. liquor sales after the country ushered in a boycott of American booze, and as more young adults are cutting back on drinking.

Jim Beam, owned by Suntory Global Spirits, is one of Kentucky’s biggest bourbon producers.

The Bluegrass state’s $9 billion whiskey bourbon industry has been struggling to manage its abundant supply of liquor against the drop in demand.


Industry group Distilled Spirits Council of the United States said that U.S. spirits exports plummeted 85 percent, falling below $10 million in the second quarter of 2025, which CEO Chris Swonger blamed on “persistent trade tensions.”

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/foodanddrink/other/jim-beam-shutting-down-bourbon-production-at-kentucky-distillery/ar-AA1SKFYQ?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=DCTS&cvid=6947d2912b4a400a9877774167417a66&ei=17
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Jim Beam Shutting Down Bourbon Distillery in Kentucky (Original Post) Pototan Dec 21 OP
Hmm . . . Doing some Christmas cooking this morning . . . hatrack Dec 21 #1
Oatmeal cookies Roy Rolling Dec 21 #5
Raisins?!? Blasphemer!! hatrack Dec 21 #7
I've always called them dead flies. 🪰🤮 GentryDixon Dec 21 #13
You have to soak them in bourbon, rum, or brandy. GoneOffShore Dec 21 #24
My dear Mainer man used to ask if I wanted flies in my oatmeal Easterncedar Dec 21 #39
Sam I Am? Is that you? Roy Rolling Dec 27 #70
Chocolate chips are great in oatmeal cookies vs raisins IronLionZion Dec 21 #21
Chocolate chip cookies catchnrelease Dec 21 #49
I was just about to ... mahatmakanejeeves Dec 21 #2
Thanks for the back-up Pototan Dec 23 #68
No sympathy mgardener Dec 21 #3
What % of Kentucky voted for Trump? Botany Dec 21 #30
But the price of eggs!! progressoid Dec 21 #55
64.47% of Kentucky voters voted for Trump; 33.94% went for Harris. ShazzieB Dec 22 #59
Jim Beam is owned by Suntory and 57% of their PAC's political donations in 2024 went to Republicans. meadowlander Dec 22 #67
Jobs as well..... Lovie777 Dec 21 #4
My value option for bourbon BeyondGeography Dec 21 #6
Maybe they can donate some cash Old Crank Dec 21 #8
There ya go. Donate a $10,000 gold plated clock for the lobby of the forthcoming Trump Kennedy Memorial 3Hotdogs Dec 21 #17
And another tear rolls from the eye of Whiskey Pete Kegbreath! TurboDem Dec 21 #9
So when is Trump Bourbon going on sale? twodogsbarking Dec 21 #10
Hold on, I'll go p** in an old bottle... Jack Valentino Dec 21 #58
Thank you Canada and Canadians !!! SamKnause Dec 21 #11
We visited the Jim Beam distillery outside of Louisville last year. tavernier Dec 21 #12
Kentucky bourbon used in a NYcity themed drink?!! Omnipresent Dec 21 #27
It was one of their signature drinks. tavernier Dec 21 #32
Most likely saving money on wages, doubtful the primary goal is benevolent, imo. ... littlemissmartypants Dec 21 #31
Apparently not so at Jack Daniel's distillary. tavernier Dec 21 #34
So, for a fact they pay everyone... littlemissmartypants Dec 21 #36
Yes. tavernier Dec 21 #54
I'll take your word for it. ❤️ littlemissmartypants Dec 22 #65
Your chart is based on earnings regardless of job or location. Abolishinist Dec 21 #37
It's not my chart. Also, the other comment above yours.... littlemissmartypants Dec 21 #38
Plenty of Kentucky residents voted for Dem Andy Beshear IronLionZion Dec 21 #50
tRUMP's hatred and racism has permanently destroyed the Canadian whiskey markets and..... wolfie001 Dec 21 #14
Agreed Pototan Dec 24 #69
I prefer inexpensive "Canadian Whisky" which is bottled in Kentucky. John1956PA Dec 21 #15
Watch an old black and white movie on TCM. Dr. T Dec 21 #29
I was surprised by our friends catchnrelease Dec 21 #51
That is not whiskey. It is moonshine lite. Jacson6 Dec 22 #60
I hear you. I refer to it as whiskey-flavored grain alcohol. John1956PA Dec 22 #64
Canary in the coal mine. There will be more of this. Scrivener7 Dec 21 #16
But they're pwning teh libs so that makes it okay /s durablend Dec 21 #26
"Persistent trade tensions" my arse. Cowards. Just say it. Trump tariffs are toxic to the economy Raven123 Dec 21 #18
I needed a bottle of whisky in the house so bought Jameson's Irish... IthinkThereforeIAM Dec 21 #19
Yet another reason I'm glad I'm a scotch drinker. Paladin Dec 21 #20
I noticed lots of bourbon at holiday parties recently IronLionZion Dec 21 #22
Sadly, this is what needs to happen for the Joinfortmill Dec 21 #23
Unfortunately for Kentucky, my blue state of Washington distills a superb bourbon. Aristus Dec 21 #25
I have some good friends who live in Woodinville. C Moon Dec 22 #62
I was raised on Jim Beam. ProudMNDemocrat Dec 21 #28
They been making bourbon since 1795 . Trump Emile Dec 21 #33
Commit Acts of Tariffism Disaffected Dec 21 #35
Apparently kids are trading in their shot glass for a bong. n/t Jacson6 Dec 21 #40
I hope Jim Beam is clear to the state's voters that this is due to the Trump tariffs. Beartracks Dec 21 #41
I get in trouble with liquor stores when I loudly state that only 1% of that expensive bottle erronis Dec 21 #42
Plus which alcohol is now a known carcinogen mahina Dec 21 #57
I quit drinking in 2011 after my tailbone flap surgery... IthinkThereforeIAM Dec 30 #71
So it will be interesting to see how orange piggy blames President Biden for this which is a result of orange piggy's kimbutgar Dec 21 #43
Just to be clear, this is not a Canadian Federal decision, it is done province by province and Bev54 Dec 21 #44
Suntory Global Spirits is a huge Japanese company, headquartered in New York City. patphil Dec 21 #45
And Kentuckians will thank Trump. RandySF Dec 21 #46
KY is a red-state. So, it could be argued that this is what they voted for, right? QueerDuck Dec 21 #47
Good riddance would be optimal Clouds Passing Dec 21 #48
Beam and RC Cola. This says "one of..." but I can't find any other KY distillery underpants Dec 21 #52
This says "pausing production" due to aging barrels of spirits tax (inventory) underpants Dec 21 #53
And a local Walmart shut down for a year in the middle of an attempted unionization... Iggo Dec 22 #66
Demographics are against the alcohol industries bucolic_frolic Dec 21 #56
What did you have to lose? czarjak Dec 22 #61
I know this is off topic... C Moon Dec 22 #63

hatrack

(64,268 posts)
1. Hmm . . . Doing some Christmas cooking this morning . . .
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 06:19 AM
Dec 21

Should I start with the oatmeal cookies or the spiced pecans? Decisions, decisions . . .

IronLionZion

(50,830 posts)
21. Chocolate chips are great in oatmeal cookies vs raisins
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 08:07 AM
Dec 21

bourbon can go well in spiced pecans

catchnrelease

(2,133 posts)
49. Chocolate chip cookies
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 06:08 PM
Dec 21

are almost my favorite cookie...only surpassed by oatmeal choc chip, mmmmm!! (And raisins are gross in cookies imo)

mahatmakanejeeves

(68,264 posts)
2. I was just about to ...
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 06:19 AM
Dec 21

Reposted by Mike Masnick
https://bsky.app/profile/mmasnick.bsky.social

Brian PJ Cronin
‪@brianpjcronin.bsky.social‬

Holy crap, Trump Take Jim Bean

‪Karl Bode‬
‪@karlbode.com‬
· 21h
so much winning

Major Kentucky bourbon maker Jim Beam shuttering distillery for 2026
The move comes as Kentucky’s $9 billion bourbon industry is dealing with a glut of supply and slipping sales.
www.kentucky.com
8:46 AM · Dec 20, 2025

Holy crap, Trump Take Jim Bean

Brian PJ Cronin (@brianpjcronin.bsky.social) 2025-12-20T13:46:00.128Z


Karl Bode
‪@karlbode.com‬

so much winning

Major Kentucky bourbon maker Jim Beam shuttering distillery for 2026
The move comes as Kentucky’s $9 billion bourbon industry is dealing with a glut of supply and slipping sales.
www.kentucky.com
8:41 AM · Dec 20, 2025

so much winning

Karl Bode (@karlbode.com) 2025-12-20T13:41:50.773Z

Botany

(76,419 posts)
30. What % of Kentucky voted for Trump?
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 09:23 AM
Dec 21

Under Biden America had the #1 economy in the world and Canada bought lots of
Kentucky Bourbon under Trump and citizens from around the world are actively work-
Ing to boycott U.S. made products.

Trump. Harris
Popular vote 1,337,494 704,043
Percentage 64.47% 33.94%

meadowlander

(5,097 posts)
67. Jim Beam is owned by Suntory and 57% of their PAC's political donations in 2024 went to Republicans.
Mon Dec 22, 2025, 12:40 PM
Dec 22

Lovie777

(21,782 posts)
4. Jobs as well.....
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 06:26 AM
Dec 21

shithole continues with destroying what makes USA great. That crap about make America great is total gaslighting.

BeyondGeography

(40,817 posts)
6. My value option for bourbon
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 06:34 AM
Dec 21

Makes for a great cocktail. There’s Four Roses too but JB is cheaper. After that it’s pretty much either 20 bucks for Jim Beam or 50 or 60 for some “small-batch” deal. So, I hope they survive with their price points intact.

3Hotdogs

(15,035 posts)
17. There ya go. Donate a $10,000 gold plated clock for the lobby of the forthcoming Trump Kennedy Memorial
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 07:37 AM
Dec 21

airport terminal in Queens, New York, and get a $3 billion subsidy to carry 'em over the hump.


Oh --- and I hope the "memorial" part of all of this happens soon. My, soon to be favorite record, "Dancin' In The Streets."

twodogsbarking

(17,589 posts)
10. So when is Trump Bourbon going on sale?
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 06:40 AM
Dec 21

It will make you, well, Presidential. Like an alcoholic.

SamKnause

(14,706 posts)
11. Thank you Canada and Canadians !!!
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 06:43 AM
Dec 21

Last edited Sun Dec 21, 2025, 03:50 PM - Edit history (1)

Trump, his administration, and his supporters are responsible for this major fuck-up.

Elbows up and thank you again Canada and Canadians.

tavernier

(14,273 posts)
12. We visited the Jim Beam distillery outside of Louisville last year.
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 06:46 AM
Dec 21

I had an amazing Manhattan at their on site restaurant. Lovely memory strolling the grounds. I imagine most of the residents of Kentucky voted for piggy, but still it makes me sad to see it close. BTW, a good deal of the employees, including our strikingly beautiful hostess, were people of color. So the business appeared to be non discriminatory.

Omnipresent

(7,308 posts)
27. Kentucky bourbon used in a NYcity themed drink?!!
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 09:00 AM
Dec 21

This just gave aunt clara the vapors, while the colonel is spinning in his grave!

tavernier

(14,273 posts)
34. Apparently not so at Jack Daniel's distillary.
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 11:22 AM
Dec 21

Daniel’s was taught the process by a black man named Nearest Greene and both families still work there together earning same wages. It’s a great book called Love and Whiskey. But you can bet that this is uncommon.

littlemissmartypants

(31,676 posts)
36. So, for a fact they pay everyone...
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 01:48 PM
Dec 21

The same thing that the white men get for comparable work, is what you’re saying?

tavernier

(14,273 posts)
54. Yes.
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 06:54 PM
Dec 21

It’s an interesting piece of history unlike any other in Tennessee. Read the book. They were all so poor that they knew no other way than treating each other like equals. The book was on sale at the fabulous art museum in Indianapolis, Indiana, and once I read it, I had to do as much research as possible about the subject matter. It’s really interesting.

Abolishinist

(2,888 posts)
37. Your chart is based on earnings regardless of job or location.
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 02:09 PM
Dec 21

In the same article,

"Better news was found in the controlled pay gap, a comparison of pay for black and white men with the same experience and education doing the same job in the same geographic location. This approach showed that black men earned 98 cents for every dollar earned by white men with the same qualifications."

I agree there are wage disparities, but for this discussion being more job/location specific makes for a better comparison.

littlemissmartypants

(31,676 posts)
38. It's not my chart. Also, the other comment above yours....
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 02:23 PM
Dec 21

Appears to be suggesting that it's the existence of brotherly love and history that excuses the racial pay disparity. Ask a group of black women what they think.

Pay disparity based on anything not covered by education and experience is inexcusable, imo. Period.

IronLionZion

(50,830 posts)
50. Plenty of Kentucky residents voted for Dem Andy Beshear
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 06:19 PM
Dec 21

so they're not completely red at the state/local level.

wolfie001

(7,100 posts)
14. tRUMP's hatred and racism has permanently destroyed the Canadian whiskey markets and.....
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 07:03 AM
Dec 21

....he's badly damaged the US's reputation in Europe. All thanks to tRUMP, the fat orange imbecile.

John1956PA

(4,833 posts)
15. I prefer inexpensive "Canadian Whisky" which is bottled in Kentucky.
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 07:25 AM
Dec 21

My consumption of liquor and other alcohol beverages is light. I think the same goes for the younger generations.

Drinking alcohol is not in vogue anymore. The younger generations are moving on from it.

Dr. T

(513 posts)
29. Watch an old black and white movie on TCM.
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 09:19 AM
Dec 21

Nearly every scene in a home or office environment features a mini bar. Cocktails are made as soon as someone walks through the door. I get a laugh out of that.

catchnrelease

(2,133 posts)
51. I was surprised by our friends
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 06:24 PM
Dec 21

Husband and I have long time friends who we've gotten together with every Thanksgiving for years. That's about the only time we see them these days. Last year we happened to go to their house one afternoon to drop off something. Chatting and catching up we ended up there later in the day and the wife happened to mention that 'We have a cocktail every night at 6'. I was surprised as this seems like such an old fashioned or out dated thing to do. Maybe lots of people do it, I have no idea. We really only have wine at a holiday dinner so it's definitely not our thing. Your post made me think of our friends. (They don't have a mini bar anywhere in sight)

Raven123

(7,559 posts)
18. "Persistent trade tensions" my arse. Cowards. Just say it. Trump tariffs are toxic to the economy
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 07:39 AM
Dec 21

IthinkThereforeIAM

(3,281 posts)
19. I needed a bottle of whisky in the house so bought Jameson's Irish...
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 07:46 AM
Dec 21

... totally ignored the bourbons. I don't drink, but once in a while a person needs a shot of good whisky to ... well you know. Nerves and things...

Paladin

(32,299 posts)
20. Yet another reason I'm glad I'm a scotch drinker.
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 07:49 AM
Dec 21

My sympathy to those distillery workers who were wise enough to not vote for trump.

IronLionZion

(50,830 posts)
22. I noticed lots of bourbon at holiday parties recently
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 08:20 AM
Dec 21

I guess it's because of the supply glut.

Clermont is one of their 4 distilleries in Kentucky.

I like Jim Beam Black. Knob Creek and Basil Hayden are also good.

Aristus

(71,658 posts)
25. Unfortunately for Kentucky, my blue state of Washington distills a superb bourbon.
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 08:48 AM
Dec 21

Woodinville bourbon. Heavenly. The only bourbon I drink.

I wish this turn of events would get Kentuckians to regret voting for Herr Schitzenpantz. But it won’t. They’ll just blame Joe Biden, as usual. Some people can’t be taught.

C Moon

(13,474 posts)
62. I have some good friends who live in Woodinville.
Mon Dec 22, 2025, 01:50 AM
Dec 22

Wow, I didn't know they had a whiskey.
Visited them once, too.

ProudMNDemocrat

(20,630 posts)
28. I was raised on Jim Beam.
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 09:07 AM
Dec 21

It remains my favorite Bourbon. My mother used it on my gums when I was teething as I did when my children were.

I recently bought a bottle to nurse over the next year. But I also see that Trump closed the door for exports to the world that hurts US sales. He doesn't understand when doors are closed, they're unlikely to reopen again.

Beartracks

(14,363 posts)
41. I hope Jim Beam is clear to the state's voters that this is due to the Trump tariffs.
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 02:44 PM
Dec 21

It's not Canada's fault. If Trump's America is purportedly allowed to "defend" itself in matters of trade by levying tariffs on imported goods, then Canada is allowed to enact trade policies to defend itself as well. They're not obligated to "buy American."

====================

erronis

(22,677 posts)
42. I get in trouble with liquor stores when I loudly state that only 1% of that expensive bottle
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 02:46 PM
Dec 21

is unique to the brand/blend/etc. Colorants and flavors.

The rest is water (H2O) and ethanol (C5H2OH).

Amazing what people will pay for a label, fancy bottle, and some perfume.

mahina

(20,433 posts)
57. Plus which alcohol is now a known carcinogen
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 08:21 PM
Dec 21

But I am sorry for the horrible situation

IthinkThereforeIAM

(3,281 posts)
71. I quit drinking in 2011 after my tailbone flap surgery...
Tue Dec 30, 2025, 01:43 PM
Dec 30

... and at my latest check up, my PSA was 0.41. I best friend is going in for prostate surgery on Jan 13, his PSA was 12+, using RSO the past few months it has gone down to around 11.

kimbutgar

(26,823 posts)
43. So it will be interesting to see how orange piggy blames President Biden for this which is a result of orange piggy's
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 02:47 PM
Dec 21

Unnecessary Tariffs The pretzel twisting will be interesting and probably soooooo stupid!

Bev54

(13,207 posts)
44. Just to be clear, this is not a Canadian Federal decision, it is done province by province and
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 03:21 PM
Dec 21

a couple of provinces have kept the booze on the shelves but Canadians are not so inclined to buy it. Most provinces have a liquor control board which uses its purchasing power to buy alcohol and sell through government stores and other merchants, including restaurants. Two provinces have made the decision to sell off the American booze (and not re-order) and give the proceeds to charity, including food banks. Ontario, who holds the largest amount has not yet made a decision but said if they were to do that, it would not be during the holiday season as he did not want to hurt our domestic markets during their busy season. I hope he will make the same decision to give proceeds to charity.

patphil

(8,733 posts)
45. Suntory Global Spirits is a huge Japanese company, headquartered in New York City.
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 03:43 PM
Dec 21

They make a a variety of whiskys, wines and spirits.

https://www.suntoryglobalspirits.com/

Read their history on the Suntory site. They're a very wide ranging company, with many brands you've heard of, and probably drink if you're into Scotch, Canadian Whisky, several types of Bourbon, Gin, Vodka, or Japanese Whiskey.
I use to drink Yamazaki, an excellent Japanese single malt whiskey, but it's gone up in price over the past 5-6 years to the point where it's out of my reach.

It's too bad we have such an incredible shithead in the Oval Office. So far, his tariff debacle has cost our economy 10's of billions of dollars, and hundreds of thousands of jobs. And that's just the start of it. The longer it goes, the worse it will be for us. Since the tariff is essentially a tax, what's happening is that the middle and lower classes are actually paying a larger percent of the tax burden than they used to. A tariff is designed to shift the tax burden off the corporations and ultra rich, while pretending that it both protects and creates jobs in the United States.
But, in practice, it's costing jobs, while also costing us a whole lot of money.
Remember the "big beautiful bill" gave the rich a huge tax break.
The end result is that the rich get richer and we get poorer.


QueerDuck

(1,033 posts)
47. KY is a red-state. So, it could be argued that this is what they voted for, right?
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 04:57 PM
Dec 21

Gee. Elections have consequences. It's sad to see that innocent people must pay for the ignorance, hate, greed and bigotry of others. But for everyone else, I hope they suffer greatly.

underpants

(194,960 posts)
52. Beam and RC Cola. This says "one of..." but I can't find any other KY distillery
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 06:34 PM
Dec 21

When I drank bourbon my favorite was Beam and RC cola. I guess I had a bit of a sweet tooth for it.

underpants

(194,960 posts)
53. This says "pausing production" due to aging barrels of spirits tax (inventory)
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 06:37 PM
Dec 21

Popular Kentucky bourbon maker Jim Beam plans to pause production at its main distillery on January 1, according to the James B. Beam Distilling Co.

The decision comes as Kentucky faces an increasing supply of aging barrels and uncertainty over President Donald Trump’s trade wars.

Kentucky has an all-time high of 16.1 million aging barrels of bourbon in its warehouses, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association said in October. Distillers are paying for that supply, since the state charges taxes on aging barrels of spirits. Kentucky distillers paid $75 million in aging barrel taxes this year, up 27% from 2024, according to the trade group.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/21/business/jim-beam-tariffs-pause-production

Iggo

(49,662 posts)
66. And a local Walmart shut down for a year in the middle of an attempted unionization...
Mon Dec 22, 2025, 12:34 PM
Dec 22

…so they could do some much needed plumbing and roofing repairs.

Nobody believed that, either.

bucolic_frolic

(54,064 posts)
56. Demographics are against the alcohol industries
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 07:25 PM
Dec 21

Older populations can't drink as much.

Plus, it's been roughly 45 years since the American diet took a carb spike. Those generations as they age are fighting or trying to prevent diabetes.

Any stats on liquor stores in the U.S.A.? State stores in states that have them, such as Pennsylvania?

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