Jim Beam Shutting Down Bourbon Distillery in Kentucky

[Pototan]

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

[hatrack]

1. Hmm . . . Doing some Christmas cooking this morning . . .

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

[Roy Rolling]

5. Oatmeal cookies

Don’t bogart the raisins.

[hatrack]

7. Raisins?!? Blasphemer!!

[GentryDixon]

13. I've always called them dead flies. 🪰🤮

[GoneOffShore]

24. You have to soak them in bourbon, rum, or brandy.

Then they're fat drunken dead flies.

[Easterncedar]

39. My dear Mainer man used to ask if I wanted flies in my oatmeal

[IronLionZion]

21. Chocolate chips are great in oatmeal cookies vs raisins

bourbon can go well in spiced pecans

[catchnrelease]

49. Chocolate chip cookies

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

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. I was just about to ...

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

[Pototan]

68. Thanks for the back-up

[mgardener]

3. No sympathy

They voted for him.
They got exactly what they voted for and apparently wanted.

[Botany]

30. What % of Kentucky voted for Trump?

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%

[progressoid]

55. But the price of eggs!!

[ShazzieB]

59. 64.47% of Kentucky voters voted for Trump; 33.94% went for Harris.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_United_States_presidential_election_in_Kentucky

It's about what I expected. Kentucky is blazingly red.

[meadowlander]

67. Jim Beam is owned by Suntory and 57% of their PAC's political donations in 2024 went to Republicans.

[Lovie777]

4. Jobs as well.....

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

[BeyondGeography]

6. My value option for bourbon

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.

[Old Crank]

8. Maybe they can donate some cash

And get a Huuuge subsidy check.....

[3Hotdogs]

17. There ya go. Donate a $10,000 gold plated clock for the lobby of the forthcoming Trump Kennedy Memorial

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."

[TurboDem]

9. And another tear rolls from the eye of Whiskey Pete Kegbreath!

[twodogsbarking]

10. So when is Trump Bourbon going on sale?

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

[Jack Valentino]

58. Hold on, I'll go p** in an old bottle...

[SamKnause]

11. Thank you Canada and Canadians !!!

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]

12. We visited the Jim Beam distillery outside of Louisville last year.

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]

27. Kentucky bourbon used in a NYcity themed drink?!!

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

[tavernier]

32. It was one of their signature drinks.

[littlemissmartypants]

31. Most likely saving money on wages, doubtful the primary goal is benevolent, imo. ...

https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/benefits-compensation/black-workers-still-earn-less-white-counterparts

[tavernier]

34. Apparently not so at Jack Daniel's distillary.

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]

36. So, for a fact they pay everyone...

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

[tavernier]

54. Yes.

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.

[littlemissmartypants]

65. I'll take your word for it. ❤️

[Abolishinist]

37. Your chart is based on earnings regardless of job or location.

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]

38. It's not my chart. Also, the other comment above yours....

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. Plenty of Kentucky residents voted for Dem Andy Beshear

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

[wolfie001]

14. tRUMP's hatred and racism has permanently destroyed the Canadian whiskey markets and.....

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

[Pototan]

69. Agreed

[John1956PA]

15. I prefer inexpensive "Canadian Whisky" which is bottled in Kentucky.

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]

29. Watch an old black and white movie on TCM.

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]

51. I was surprised by our friends

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)

[Jacson6]

60. That is not whiskey. It is moonshine lite.

Disgusting even with a sweetened drink.

[John1956PA]

64. I hear you. I refer to it as whiskey-flavored grain alcohol.

[Scrivener7]

16. Canary in the coal mine. There will be more of this.

[durablend]

26. But they're pwning teh libs so that makes it okay /s

[Raven123]

18. "Persistent trade tensions" my arse. Cowards. Just say it. Trump tariffs are toxic to the economy

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

19. I needed a bottle of whisky in the house so bought Jameson's Irish...

... 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]

20. Yet another reason I'm glad I'm a scotch drinker.

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

[IronLionZion]

22. I noticed lots of bourbon at holiday parties recently

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.

[Joinfortmill]

23. Sadly, this is what needs to happen for the

'non-woke' to finally wake the fuck up.

[Aristus]

25. Unfortunately for Kentucky, my blue state of Washington distills a superb bourbon.

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]

62. I have some good friends who live in Woodinville.

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

[ProudMNDemocrat]

28. I was raised on Jim Beam.

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.

[Emile]

33. They been making bourbon since 1795 . Trump

destroyed their business in 11 months.

[Disaffected]

35. Commit Acts of Tariffism

and see what happens.

[Jacson6]

40. Apparently kids are trading in their shot glass for a bong. n/t

[Beartracks]

41. I hope Jim Beam is clear to the state's voters that this is due to the Trump tariffs.

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]

42. I get in trouble with liquor stores when I loudly state that only 1% of that expensive bottle

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]

57. Plus which alcohol is now a known carcinogen

But I am sorry for the horrible situation

[kimbutgar]

43. So it will be interesting to see how orange piggy blames President Biden for this which is a result of orange piggy's

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

[Bev54]

44. Just to be clear, this is not a Canadian Federal decision, it is done province by province and

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]

45. Suntory Global Spirits is a huge Japanese company, headquartered in New York City.

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.

[RandySF]

46. And Kentuckians will thank Trump.

[QueerDuck]

47. KY is a red-state. So, it could be argued that this is what they voted for, right?

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.

[Clouds Passing]

48. Good riddance would be optimal

[underpants]

52. Beam and RC Cola. This says "one of..." but I can't find any other KY distillery

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

[underpants]

53. This says "pausing production" due to aging barrels of spirits tax (inventory)

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]

66. And a local Walmart shut down for a year in the middle of an attempted unionization...

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

Nobody believed that, either.

[bucolic_frolic]

56. Demographics are against the alcohol industries

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?

[czarjak]

61. What did you have to lose?

[C Moon]

63. I know this is off topic...

trump's an idiot.