That's literally what just happened with the rewrite of the farm bill from his first administration. It allowed regular people to open small farms and businesses, so of course they had to "fix" that. And now they're talking about rescheduling...so that it's still a major crime for regular citizens and fully bars us from businesses or self/home growing of cannabis but at the same time opens and leaves the door wide open for mega corps.
I like to remind ny relatives who were complaining about how immigrants are forcing AMERICAN businesses to shut down that Jim Bean is owned by a Japanese company.
I am not 100% sure if that's the case what with the boom starting in 2011... but regardless its a huge source of revenue! I have been bitching to the DNC for a year now to aggressively go after Kentucky on a pro-bourbon platform. The only reason I could see them avoiding that angle is that bourbon we all want is coming back to shelves and prices are dropping. The economics are bad, but consumers are enjoying those aspects.
They just constantly shoot themselves in the foot, with every decision. I think every day, when I see MAGA, about how they are somehow "equal" in status to the rest of us. Same civic power, but they can't measure to any meaningful standards. They don't know anything, and don't know how to find answers. It's just wild.
They will be fine once the bigger company that makes the same product buys all the infrastructure at Pennieâs on the dollar and rehires them to do the same job at a fraction of what they were making if they havenât already automated the workers out of the process by then.
Thats not how bourbon works. The youngest product they produce is 4 years old. They have been at record production for over a decade with more barrels aging than at any point in history right now. Halting production to sell existing stock (while ever increasing age statements) is a market correction after a 15 year boom with sales increasing from 300-475% since 1999 and prices rising with lower age statements or age statements fully removed in some instances.
I fully understand why you would think what you do... but take it from a whiskey nerd, they aren't going out of business lol
My comment was more about the tariff impact on workers that voted for these policies. Iâm guessing halting production is also going to lead to laying off whoever was working at that plant in the production process right?
Iâm not a bourbon nerd at all so I appreciate the additional insight into the process. Do you think this decision would have been made regardless of the trade situation currently or are massive boycotts on us liquor having some impact here as well?
I hate that you are getting down voted for this. Your statement is accurate and further reading from other news sources supports your statement. I hate that I keep seeing âshutting downâ.
Union reps have reported âEmployees in our distillery department are being reassigned within the company, and as of now, there are no layoffs," the union said.â And other areas of the campus are remaining open.
Actually, it looks like the Redditor you replied to has more accurate info.
As I replied above, further reading from other news sources has more detail and shows that âshutting downâ is inaccurate.
Union reps have reported âEmployees in our distillery department are being reassigned within the company, and as of now, there are no layoffs," the union said.â And other areas of the campus are remaining open.
The "90-year-old" Kentucky distillery closing news refers to Jim Beam's historic Clermont distillery pausing distillation for all of 2026, not permanently closing, to upgrade facilities and manage excess inventory due to tariffs and market shifts
Theyâre shutting down for a year because theyâre not selling enough bourbon to consider brewing more. They have too much in stock because the Tariffs are making it impossible to sell. Hereâs your article link.
OP is technically correct with an asterisk.
Edit: Word of advice, donât believe something simply because itâs a preferable reality to something else. Believe it if it has good evidence.
OP is not correct. Jim Beam has not gone "belly up". They are closing one of their three distilleries, for one year. "Belly up" is dead, or out of business. Which is not the case here
When youâve racked up a 3rd grade education this is what you should expect.All these southern states consistently ranked at the bottom and have been run by republicans for decades!
That distillery is never reopening. I worked for a company that would do this with their plants. They always claimed it was temporary. None ever reopened.
Ehhh I wouldnt say that. Stuff like bourbon takes years after production before it can be used. A shutdown today still means there is a stockpile of 7+ years of bourbon aging in barrels before this shutdown will be an impact.
Don't get me wrong, its bad for them, but its not like a restaurant or warehouse temporarily closing. They're still going to have revenue for the foreseeable future.
I understand that waa your experience, but no need to worry about Beam lmao Bourbon is a long-term strategy market. This is a blow, but they will adapt and be fine.
So bourbon can only be made in America and Beam is the largest producer (thought technically its Jack, they just use a different label due to an added step) and their share in the bourbon industry is not just Jim Beam. I assure you, they are fine.
Edit: for context, they were at historic levels of production as well as profitability over the past decade. A market correction due to shifts won't kill them... not even close.
So Jim beam temporarily closes, salaries lost while the facility takes the opportunity in a poor sales year as a result of trade wars by a sitting president, "still" hurting those who served Jim beam for 90 years.
What? Damn I hope this is not true. Tarrifs from other countries hurting exports or they can't make whiskey 100% in the US? Curious what the specifics are here.Â
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't it be yes and no-ish?
Yes, Canada says fuck your tariffs, we won't buy your booze (as does every other country on the planet) so our global distilleries are fucked.
No-ish, because most of what they need can be sourced from the US. It's my understanding that most glass is imported, and most of the casks for finishing are imported from Europe. One of those should be easier to fix than the other... I suppose if the recipe calls for French sherry casks and France, justifiably, says "screw you, we're not selling" or they're just too expensive to buy, well, that would make it a straight "yes".
Eh I suppose you could say no-ish to the latter. We could make it 100% in the US just based off the fact that we grow the necessary ingredients like corn, wheat, & barley. However, we do have to note that not all of that can go to bourbon production since there are many other foods & products that use the same ingredients. We do import a significant chunk of these in regard to bourbon production, along with materials you listed, so reducing volume of those imports/raising the cost through tariffs simply passes that along to the consumer.
Itâs unsustainable to try and consolidate the production to just the US, particularly because we donât have the land, crops, and infrastructure to do so.
Must be made in America with certain distilling specs including maximum distillation proof and entry proof. It must be aged in a new charred oak container. It must be at least 51% corn. It can be bottled no lower than 80 proof. There can be no additives or flavoring.
Thatâs what their official statement says. Making improvements to their main facility. The restaurant and bar/tasting room will remain open on site they are pausing production while they workâŚ. Again, this is just what they said idk that to be 100% true but thatâs what they said lol
Canadians used to drink a lot of this stuff, but because our government has been suddenly aggressive towards them (tariffs, threats) they've been boycotting.
Glass, cork, and fertilizer imports (to make the grain to make the whiskey) and grain itself are the important issues. The export issues are largely Canada and the EU with at least provinces of Canada no longer carrying American spirits and the EU placing a 50% tariff on them.
Domestically, there was a historic boom in the domestic market around (2018ish?) peaking in 2020. It has since slumped.. but due to that boom, production levels were absolutely through the roof with a record now nearly 19 million barrels of whiskey aging in Kentucky as the industry attempted to match demand after historic investment. Trust me, they are fine. This hurts but they will be OK lol
I bet you think "restructuring" means they're actually improving their staffing hierarchy too, and not just firing a bunch of people to give shareholders more optimistic opEx forecasts.
You're wrong, and the data clearly shows that you're wrong. But hey, they're just remodeling for an entire year and not producing any whiskey at one of their locations, that's a totally normal thing to do when your industry is "fine".
They have been at record level production for over a decade after historic investment. Their profits have been at historic levels with over 300% increases in sales since 1999. This is a market correction due to a number of domestic and international factors in both markets. Its obviously not a good thing for them, but the large producers will survive as they correct for slumping demand.
Okay, but what have sales been like since tariffs?
You can't say "well in the last 30 years they've grown" and then overlook a very important data point.
Also, most companies when they grow like that, don't just cut production out of the blue. Probably on account of they want to maintain sales, Jim Beam's price isn't going to go up just because they stop making so much of it, it's not exactly a luxury brand to begin with, and they are present in a market rife with competition, withdrawing supply ultimately means fewer profits when there is plentiful competition.
You can say historic a hundred fucking times, it doesn't rationalize any of the behavior in the article.
Bro.... Jim Beam has several premium brands from the Knob Creek line, Bookers, Bakers, and then there is the Basil Hayden and Old Granddad line along with super premiums like Hardins Creek. They have solidified themselves with the middle market with Jim Beam 7, Old Grandddad 7 BiB, Old Grandddad 114 7, and Knob Creek 9.. and their flagship is still the 2nd most popular brand of American Whiskey behind Jack Daniels. They also own Makers Mark.
We also aren't talking about the bourbon industry "rising tide raises all ships" philosophy which has saved even smaller producers during the hardest of times. A great example would be Jimmy Russell from WT sending his repairman to help Julian VanWinkle when his bottling line broke for free. Julian VanWinkle of course now being the creator of the "Pappy" brand that launched the bourbon boom. Even if Jim Beam did have significant trouble, HH who has a deep connection to them due to the legacy of Parker Beam, would step in to help.
Respectfully, you just don't understand the industry. Its very unique. If I didn't know the bourbon market, I would think the exact same thing you do.
Edit: yes. The market has shifted significantly, which is why they are doing this market correction.
You literally listed a bunch of "mid tier" brands. Again, cutting production won't increase value.
Now, are you going to answer the question of, how are sales since tariffs, or nah? Because if you're going to keep dancing around the obvious data, then just shut the fuck up already.
Yes! Thats how you make money in bourbon! Lmfao why are you trying to have this conversation with me when you didn't even know those were owned by Jim Beam? Cone on bro...
I addressed your point. They are not good. Thats why they are engaging in a market correction by slowing production in order to move through growing stock. One of the ways they are addressing that is also with those age statements which are attractive to consumers and help build brand loyalty. They are solidifying their spot in the market as they adapt to the current market conditions.
As a bourbon bro the commentary about Beam in the bourbon world (largely middle aged white dudes) is pretty hilarious over the last 24 hours. Goal posts are moving.
Unless something changed, they didn't go belly up, they just are pausing production because they have too much inventory. We'll see if they can sell what they have in inventory and begin production again, but it's not the same as the company going away. That said, I bet that both leadership and the workers voted for fat donnie, so they very much are getting what they voted for.
so in 90 years they've never closed for renovations and repairs so now they have to close for a year?? all the while their product isn't selling due to tariffs
This is a bit misleading. Theyâre not going âbelly up.â Theyâre pausing production in one of their distilleries to allow inventory to catch up. Why is it they have so much excess inventory? Canada and the rest of the world decided that the dumb fuck tariffs dumb fuck Trump came up with were enough to enjoy something other than American liquor.
Good lord you people are fucking stupid! A 2 second Google would reveal Jim Beam is not shutting down at all.
From the horses mouth, do better you fucking dipshits.
"Weâve shared with our teams that while we will continue to distill at our FBN craft distillery in Clermont and at our larger Booker Noe distillery in Boston, we plan to pause distillation at our main distillery on the James B. Beam campus for 2026 while we take the opportunity to invest in site enhancements," the company said in its statement."
Just for clarity, Jim Beam isnât shutting down whatsoever, theyâre halting production from one facility for a year.
Lots of causes in play here, Drumpfs tariffs on Canada is a HUGE player as is the state of his economy. But other factors are at play as well, like younger generations drinking less. As someone who owns an alcohol production business (winery), Iâm absolutely feeling these effects as well.
Disclaimer: Trump is a wanna be dictator and tariffs are awful
The actual tea is that theyâre closing down production for a year but will continue bottling and distributing during that time (whiskey likes to live in barrels for a few years so they have inventory on hand). This is also due to the decline in liquor sales nationally, estimated at around 25% due to changing consumption
Jim Beam is not shutting down. Their Clermont distillery will not be distilling this year. The Boston (Kentucky) will be doing all of the production while Clermont wil continue bottling and other tasks.
The reason for this is a slumping domestic market after a massive boom and the counter tariffs/trade disagreements mostly between the US and Canada, as well as the EU.
Bourbon is a uniquely American product, which makes it a prime target for counter tariffs. Several distilleries have taken a big hit, not just on the export side, but on the import side with glass and cork being two major components of premium whiskey. Also, economic turmoil/affordability certainly hurt the sale of premium whiskey.
I have been bitching for almost a year now to the DNC that they need to aggressively pursue Kentucky on these grounds. Economic loss via tourism decline, loss of jobs, and loss of tax revenue that help make better for Kentuckians is directly caused by the Trump administration. Put Dems in charge and we can fix that shit.
This is completely false. Jim Beam is ceasing distilling operations at the Clermont facility for planned upgrades to the plant. It is also keeping the visitor center and restaurant open. The Distillery in Boston KY will keep up with production and they stated no lay offs.
I hate cheeto jesus as much as the next person but yâall have to get real. Theyâre temporarily pausing production at one facility and there will be no layoffs
Yâall actually believe this before you even look something up? Jim Beam is closing one distillery for about a year for site enhancements. Operations will be moved to two other distilleries while this takes place. The employees are being placed in positions where they are needed most. Geez people. Reinvesting back in the business is a good thing.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/business/article313847580.html
Itâs not about the employees. While Beam hasnât announced layoffs, Brown-Forman has. Including a pause in production.
A larger view of bourbon and spirit production shows the negative effects tariffs have had on sales. Scaling back by 55 million gallons, roughly a 28% decrease, which is the lowest since 2018. Exports affected greatly: sales in Canada down 60%.
They can call it site enhancements, and it may be a good time to do them based on the lowered sales. However, if the sales weren't down by more than 1/4, they wouldn't be doing them.
Itâs not just for site enhancements. They are explicitly stating that during this shutdown they need to assess their production levels against consumer demand. Did you look this up since you asked others to?
If you did as you say, then youâd present a full picture rather than part of it. Thereâs a real discussion needing to take place because their sales have fallen. Site enhancement is being made, yes. They also have a problem with selling their product and need to reassess their production levels.
No layoffs, using it for enhancements. Only shutting down for a year because they have to age stuff for four whole years and it would help increase demand later on if tariffs get worse. Nothingburger is a nothingburger.
Sorry, the fact that you jumped so far to a conclusion you called me a liar despite me saying nothing wrong.
Good stuff there, cope harder with being called out for stupidly saying "you didn't give the full story" to the other guy who gave a hundred times more accurate story than OP.
Ford is not closing a major assembly plant in Kentucky in 2025, but its BlueOval SK battery plant in Glendale is ceasing EV battery production in early 2026, leading to around 1,600 layoffs as it pivots to making energy storage systems, with plans to rehire for that new venture within 18 months, while existing Ford plants continue producing gas vehicles and prepping for new EV models.
While I am not a conservative and do not share your politics or values, I agree that we fight the conservative / alt-right movement with truth and not stoop to their level of misinformation and bullshit.
Exactly. We donât have to agree politically but, letâs have honest conversations. Now whiskey sales in general are down across the board. Could it be tariffs, who knows. Could it be the record inflation that we endured that drove prices through the roof? Could be. We need a deflationary period to correct prices and to probably correct big corporate greed.
While specific total corporate profits under each president are complex to compare due to economic shifts, corporate profits reached all-time highs during Barack Obama's terms
I loathe that you were downvoted for speaking truth. I hate the current administration with a passion but there is tons of truth that makes that so, I donât need lies added to it. Lies is one major reason I have a problem with this administration, I sure AF donât like lies just because they knock this administration.
They havenât gone belly up. They are pausing production at its main distillery. due to rising supply compared to demand of aged whiskey amid trumps trade wars. Sheesh does anyone check facts anymore?
âI donât want to have information presented to me that goes against what I want to believeâ. Itâs literally pointless trying to discuss with you given your response.
No shutting down, pausing to update equipment. No bankruptcy filing. No jobs lost, no layoffs. Inventory supply up due to many new players getting into the game. Careful what you believe do some simple research.
I live in Louisville. Theyâre closing the distillery here for all of 2026.
Also, why exactly would their sales be dropping? Couldnât possibly be because of tariffs driving up prices due to lack of supply. And our ever increasing instability tied to our economy meaning less people being able to afford splurging on alcohol.
It would be interesting to see data on the impact to US exports along with visitors for travel. Both hurt US producers.
Tariffs, unless production depends on import components, shouldn't directly impact the US exporter.
What does is when consumers outside the US decide to boycott like in Canada where they removed US distillers from their shelves, or countries like China who completely dropped imports in entire segments.
Corn, Rye, Wheat, & Barley are all ingredients that go into bourbon. While we grow these in the US, a sizeable chunk of supply needed for production is imported from other countries.
Starting trade wars with our closest allies and slapping tariffs on majority of countries around the world including those that we import these necessities from, ends up biting us in the ass, whoâd have thunk it?
If only this had been tried repeatedly before with data to show the negative impact leading towards depressions both times. Oh well, there was no way to predict this outcome.
No company is going to go under that quickly unless they were on the verge for a very long time, and even then they'd file bankruptcy and get bought out.
It's more likely like Tyson shutting down factories in Nebraska, which the company can absorb and align with leaner operations.
Meanwhile, small tower towns or even larger towns heavily reliant on those companies lose their income, which decimates them.
You got what you voted for. đ
I bet every worker there voted for Trump. Theyâll be fine, sipping on those liberal tears they brag so much about.
You reap what you sow
They'll still blame the "woke left" and their commie kombucha.
Woke killed whiskey!!! Make America Alcoholic Again.
This will lead to alcohol lobbyists paying to have what little cannabis is legal illegal again.
That's literally what just happened with the rewrite of the farm bill from his first administration. It allowed regular people to open small farms and businesses, so of course they had to "fix" that. And now they're talking about rescheduling...so that it's still a major crime for regular citizens and fully bars us from businesses or self/home growing of cannabis but at the same time opens and leaves the door wide open for mega corps.
I like to remind ny relatives who were complaining about how immigrants are forcing AMERICAN businesses to shut down that Jim Bean is owned by a Japanese company.
Bourbon is s uniquely American product. That is why it is a prime target for counter tariffs.
Especially since the outside US market is bigger tha. The US market, with a majority being Japan and Europe.
I am not 100% sure if that's the case what with the boom starting in 2011... but regardless its a huge source of revenue! I have been bitching to the DNC for a year now to aggressively go after Kentucky on a pro-bourbon platform. The only reason I could see them avoiding that angle is that bourbon we all want is coming back to shelves and prices are dropping. The economics are bad, but consumers are enjoying those aspects.
They just constantly shoot themselves in the foot, with every decision. I think every day, when I see MAGA, about how they are somehow "equal" in status to the rest of us. Same civic power, but they can't measure to any meaningful standards. They don't know anything, and don't know how to find answers. It's just wild.
Who is this guy/character? Iâve seen a large amount of clips being shared and Iâm r/outoftheloop
Tim Robinson, check out The Chair Company for more information.
Thanks fam on it right now
"I think you should leave" is another great show of his
Thatâs Tim Cramblin from Cramblin Duvet advertising. Theyâre a Detroiter advertising firm.Â
Just no food to go with it.
Every worker there didn't vote for Trump most just didn't vote
They will be fine once the bigger company that makes the same product buys all the infrastructure at Pennieâs on the dollar and rehires them to do the same job at a fraction of what they were making if they havenât already automated the workers out of the process by then.
So yea they are fucked.
They aren't going out of business lol
RightâŚjust halting production at their flagship plant lol end result âŚthey are fucked
Thats not how bourbon works. The youngest product they produce is 4 years old. They have been at record production for over a decade with more barrels aging than at any point in history right now. Halting production to sell existing stock (while ever increasing age statements) is a market correction after a 15 year boom with sales increasing from 300-475% since 1999 and prices rising with lower age statements or age statements fully removed in some instances.
I fully understand why you would think what you do... but take it from a whiskey nerd, they aren't going out of business lol
My comment was more about the tariff impact on workers that voted for these policies. Iâm guessing halting production is also going to lead to laying off whoever was working at that plant in the production process right?
Iâm not a bourbon nerd at all so I appreciate the additional insight into the process. Do you think this decision would have been made regardless of the trade situation currently or are massive boycotts on us liquor having some impact here as well?
"Jim Beam, the countryâs largest maker of bourbon, has announced a one-year pause in production at its flagship facility in Clermont, Ky."
"The decision by the brand, owned by the Japanese conglomerate Suntory Holdings"
But the HEADLINES!
Merry Christmas Itchy. Smile today. :-).
I smile everyday, Merry Christmas to you as well.
You know no one is loosing their job right? And the distilery isnât shutting down. See this is what happens when people do not do research.
*losing.
Out of all that and all you can come back with is a misspelled word? đ¤Ł. Great job đđź
I hate that you are getting down voted for this. Your statement is accurate and further reading from other news sources supports your statement. I hate that I keep seeing âshutting downâ.
Union reps have reported âEmployees in our distillery department are being reassigned within the company, and as of now, there are no layoffs," the union said.â And other areas of the campus are remaining open.
Hereâs an article with further detail.
Iâm used to getting downvoted. Simple research makes some people very angry.
Considering they're shutting down production for a year, I dont think anyone is keeping their job.
This is what happens when you dont do research.
Actually, it looks like the Redditor you replied to has more accurate info.
As I replied above, further reading from other news sources has more detail and shows that âshutting downâ is inaccurate.
Union reps have reported âEmployees in our distillery department are being reassigned within the company, and as of now, there are no layoffs," the union said.â And other areas of the campus are remaining open.
Hereâs an article with further detail.
At least they won't pay tax on overtime. Oh yeah, there won't be any overtime.
Stupid actions have dire consequences
The "90-year-old" Kentucky distillery closing news refers to Jim Beam's historic Clermont distillery pausing distillation for all of 2026, not permanently closing, to upgrade facilities and manage excess inventory due to tariffs and market shifts
I wish I had a source for this information that counters any point the OP makes.
I believe it, but itâs still better to verify
https://apnews.com/article/jim-beam-bourbon-distillery-shutdown-kentucky-a8303cd04005a9108ff43690faad421b
Theyâre shutting down for a year because theyâre not selling enough bourbon to consider brewing more. They have too much in stock because the Tariffs are making it impossible to sell. Hereâs your article link.
OP is technically correct with an asterisk.
Edit: Word of advice, donât believe something simply because itâs a preferable reality to something else. Believe it if it has good evidence.
OP is not correct. Jim Beam has not gone "belly up". They are closing one of their three distilleries, for one year. "Belly up" is dead, or out of business. Which is not the case here
OP is just calling it a few months early
They will just blame biden
Vote for the Devil expect Hell.
Great line
When youâve racked up a 3rd grade education this is what you should expect.All these southern states consistently ranked at the bottom and have been run by republicans for decades!
We did that đ¨đŚ
That distillery is never reopening. I worked for a company that would do this with their plants. They always claimed it was temporary. None ever reopened.
Did they end up laying off the workers for those plants?
Laid off or moved elsewhere, depending on seniority
That is depressing but not surprising.
Ehhh I wouldnt say that. Stuff like bourbon takes years after production before it can be used. A shutdown today still means there is a stockpile of 7+ years of bourbon aging in barrels before this shutdown will be an impact.
Don't get me wrong, its bad for them, but its not like a restaurant or warehouse temporarily closing. They're still going to have revenue for the foreseeable future.
Yeah restaurants close all the time and say it's temporary. It rarely is temporary.
I understand that waa your experience, but no need to worry about Beam lmao Bourbon is a long-term strategy market. This is a blow, but they will adapt and be fine.
[deleted]
So bourbon can only be made in America and Beam is the largest producer (thought technically its Jack, they just use a different label due to an added step) and their share in the bourbon industry is not just Jim Beam. I assure you, they are fine.
Edit: for context, they were at historic levels of production as well as profitability over the past decade. A market correction due to shifts won't kill them... not even close.
So Jim beam temporarily closes, salaries lost while the facility takes the opportunity in a poor sales year as a result of trade wars by a sitting president, "still" hurting those who served Jim beam for 90 years.
Me in Song - FAFO
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes...
(I wish all the worst things from Trump disproportionately affects their own voters.)
What? Damn I hope this is not true. Tarrifs from other countries hurting exports or they can't make whiskey 100% in the US? Curious what the specifics are here.Â
Yes and yes.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't it be yes and no-ish?
Yes, Canada says fuck your tariffs, we won't buy your booze (as does every other country on the planet) so our global distilleries are fucked.
No-ish, because most of what they need can be sourced from the US. It's my understanding that most glass is imported, and most of the casks for finishing are imported from Europe. One of those should be easier to fix than the other... I suppose if the recipe calls for French sherry casks and France, justifiably, says "screw you, we're not selling" or they're just too expensive to buy, well, that would make it a straight "yes".
Eh I suppose you could say no-ish to the latter. We could make it 100% in the US just based off the fact that we grow the necessary ingredients like corn, wheat, & barley. However, we do have to note that not all of that can go to bourbon production since there are many other foods & products that use the same ingredients. We do import a significant chunk of these in regard to bourbon production, along with materials you listed, so reducing volume of those imports/raising the cost through tariffs simply passes that along to the consumer. Itâs unsustainable to try and consolidate the production to just the US, particularly because we donât have the land, crops, and infrastructure to do so.
They're continuing production in their Boston facility but pausing production in their KY facility for all of 2026.
Boston is in Kentucky.
It's "Sparkling wine" if it's not made in the Champagne region of France.
It's called "Brandy" if it isn't specifically "Congnac"
Is Whiskey made in Massachusetts realllllly "Kentucky Bourbon"? đ¤
You get your salsa from New York City?
NEW YORK CITY?!?!?!!?
Booker Noe distillery in Boston, Kentucky.
Ooh, my bad for not assuming Boston was in Kentucky.
Sincerely, the cities of Paris Texas, Miami Texas, etc
We also have a Versailles here in KY, we really just donât have anything original lmao
My understanding is you cannot call it bourbon unless it's made on Kentucky soil but idk.
Must be made in America with certain distilling specs including maximum distillation proof and entry proof. It must be aged in a new charred oak container. It must be at least 51% corn. It can be bottled no lower than 80 proof. There can be no additives or flavoring.
It gets more technical but I won't harp on.
I read yesterday that they were just closing it for repairs and maintenance I thought?
Thatâs what their official statement says. Making improvements to their main facility. The restaurant and bar/tasting room will remain open on site they are pausing production while they workâŚ. Again, this is just what they said idk that to be 100% true but thatâs what they said lol
Canadians used to drink a lot of this stuff, but because our government has been suddenly aggressive towards them (tariffs, threats) they've been boycotting.
I'm a makers mark fan myself but I enjoy Jim Beam as an affordable option when I'm out and about. Sucks.Â
Well, they have a 2nd distillery, so they'll still be around for a while.
But if nothing changes politically, they'll continue to slowly go under.
Fun fact: Makers is owned by Jim Beam!
Glass, cork, and fertilizer imports (to make the grain to make the whiskey) and grain itself are the important issues. The export issues are largely Canada and the EU with at least provinces of Canada no longer carrying American spirits and the EU placing a 50% tariff on them.
Domestically, there was a historic boom in the domestic market around (2018ish?) peaking in 2020. It has since slumped.. but due to that boom, production levels were absolutely through the roof with a record now nearly 19 million barrels of whiskey aging in Kentucky as the industry attempted to match demand after historic investment. Trust me, they are fine. This hurts but they will be OK lol
Itâs not true. They have said it is to perform enhancements aka a remodel.
This your first time reading a corporate memo?
I bet you think "restructuring" means they're actually improving their staffing hierarchy too, and not just firing a bunch of people to give shareholders more optimistic opEx forecasts.
You don't know the Kentucky bourbon industry lmao they're fine.
You're wrong, and the data clearly shows that you're wrong. But hey, they're just remodeling for an entire year and not producing any whiskey at one of their locations, that's a totally normal thing to do when your industry is "fine".
They have been at record level production for over a decade after historic investment. Their profits have been at historic levels with over 300% increases in sales since 1999. This is a market correction due to a number of domestic and international factors in both markets. Its obviously not a good thing for them, but the large producers will survive as they correct for slumping demand.
Okay, but what have sales been like since tariffs?
You can't say "well in the last 30 years they've grown" and then overlook a very important data point.
Also, most companies when they grow like that, don't just cut production out of the blue. Probably on account of they want to maintain sales, Jim Beam's price isn't going to go up just because they stop making so much of it, it's not exactly a luxury brand to begin with, and they are present in a market rife with competition, withdrawing supply ultimately means fewer profits when there is plentiful competition.
You can say historic a hundred fucking times, it doesn't rationalize any of the behavior in the article.
Bro.... Jim Beam has several premium brands from the Knob Creek line, Bookers, Bakers, and then there is the Basil Hayden and Old Granddad line along with super premiums like Hardins Creek. They have solidified themselves with the middle market with Jim Beam 7, Old Grandddad 7 BiB, Old Grandddad 114 7, and Knob Creek 9.. and their flagship is still the 2nd most popular brand of American Whiskey behind Jack Daniels. They also own Makers Mark.
We also aren't talking about the bourbon industry "rising tide raises all ships" philosophy which has saved even smaller producers during the hardest of times. A great example would be Jimmy Russell from WT sending his repairman to help Julian VanWinkle when his bottling line broke for free. Julian VanWinkle of course now being the creator of the "Pappy" brand that launched the bourbon boom. Even if Jim Beam did have significant trouble, HH who has a deep connection to them due to the legacy of Parker Beam, would step in to help.
Respectfully, you just don't understand the industry. Its very unique. If I didn't know the bourbon market, I would think the exact same thing you do.
Edit: yes. The market has shifted significantly, which is why they are doing this market correction.
You literally listed a bunch of "mid tier" brands. Again, cutting production won't increase value.
Now, are you going to answer the question of, how are sales since tariffs, or nah? Because if you're going to keep dancing around the obvious data, then just shut the fuck up already.
Yes! Thats how you make money in bourbon! Lmfao why are you trying to have this conversation with me when you didn't even know those were owned by Jim Beam? Cone on bro...
I addressed your point. They are not good. Thats why they are engaging in a market correction by slowing production in order to move through growing stock. One of the ways they are addressing that is also with those age statements which are attractive to consumers and help build brand loyalty. They are solidifying their spot in the market as they adapt to the current market conditions.
LoL
Sounds like Kentucky ainât getting lucky.Â
They got what they voted for
As a bourbon bro the commentary about Beam in the bourbon world (largely middle aged white dudes) is pretty hilarious over the last 24 hours. Goal posts are moving.
Well, Kentucky politicians and magats love Trump.
Beam is shit anyway but also...half of Kentucky is corn...what are they importing and from where?
The irony is my Jim Beam consumption has never been higher than when Trump is in charge.
It isn't going belly up. Are they halting production at their biggest plant partually due to terrible policy, yes. But that headline is so misleading.
Iâll be happy to take care of their extra inventory.
You mean it has nothing to do with the fact that people were drinking less statistically?
Well done Kentucky.
But I'm also going to say, we'll done Canada for (likely) buying/selling FAR less of this product over the last year.
Sincerest condolences to the good people of Jim Beam. But you know who to take this up with.
Best regards, and all the best in this difficult time, and at this season.
Damn Joe Biden, that woke liberal pervie grandpa done ruined our way o' life...Mr. Trump tried to right the ship, God bless Him...
As a Canadian Im so fucking proud of this news.
Pausing for a year. Thereâs no way theyâre turning off that money spigot w all the unregulated drunks in USA.
Unless something changed, they didn't go belly up, they just are pausing production because they have too much inventory. We'll see if they can sell what they have in inventory and begin production again, but it's not the same as the company going away. That said, I bet that both leadership and the workers voted for fat donnie, so they very much are getting what they voted for.
so in 90 years they've never closed for renovations and repairs so now they have to close for a year?? all the while their product isn't selling due to tariffs
I call bullshit
This is a bit misleading. Theyâre not going âbelly up.â Theyâre pausing production in one of their distilleries to allow inventory to catch up. Why is it they have so much excess inventory? Canada and the rest of the world decided that the dumb fuck tariffs dumb fuck Trump came up with were enough to enjoy something other than American liquor.
They're not closing, the parent plant is shutting down for a year due to a huge inventory back up all other facilities are business as usual
4% growth tho
https://preview.redd.it/94wpg3wpcz8g1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5cf3b9998638f417463da9f940b5b7a505be2a29
Canadian here. đ I did that.
This isn't true. They're not making any for a year. They haven't gone "belly up."
Good lord you people are fucking stupid! A 2 second Google would reveal Jim Beam is not shutting down at all.
From the horses mouth, do better you fucking dipshits.
"Weâve shared with our teams that while we will continue to distill at our FBN craft distillery in Clermont and at our larger Booker Noe distillery in Boston, we plan to pause distillation at our main distillery on the James B. Beam campus for 2026 while we take the opportunity to invest in site enhancements," the company said in its statement."
Fake news. Some might say, "the fakest fake news!".
No matter what happens Kentucky will just vote for the republicans again. I donât know how Beshear wins there
Just for clarity, Jim Beam isnât shutting down whatsoever, theyâre halting production from one facility for a year.
Lots of causes in play here, Drumpfs tariffs on Canada is a HUGE player as is the state of his economy. But other factors are at play as well, like younger generations drinking less. As someone who owns an alcohol production business (winery), Iâm absolutely feeling these effects as well.
No they clearly stated itâs being closed to be refurbished. Not tariff related at all.
And from insulting the largest foreign bourbon market.
I hate this so much, 3 more years of his shit
Disclaimer: Trump is a wanna be dictator and tariffs are awful
The actual tea is that theyâre closing down production for a year but will continue bottling and distributing during that time (whiskey likes to live in barrels for a few years so they have inventory on hand). This is also due to the decline in liquor sales nationally, estimated at around 25% due to changing consumption
It's only closing one distillery for a year, not that big of an issue. Owned by Japan anyways.
only one distillery is closed and they are refurbing it read the whole story
Good!
Holy crap. Talk about only reading a headline. OP is completely wrong as to what is going on with Jim Beam.
No pity for anyone who voted for this ass monkey
Good
Petition to make a new "I Did That!" sticker where it's Donnie shitting on top of the words.
Mama says every time a bell rings a Trump voter loses a job
https://i.redd.it/fqbqamdxl09g1.gif
It's closing for a year for improvements.
Jim. are ya winning yet?
So annyone got a decent bourbon to recommend or is it just irish and scottish whiskey from now on.
Remindme! 1 year
I will be messaging you in 1 year on 2026-12-23 19:28:58 UTC to remind you of this link
CLICK THIS LINK to send a PM to also be reminded and to reduce spam.
Parent commenter can delete this message to hide from others.
Not belly up!!! Not true.
Does anyone actually believe people that support him regret it? They just blame it on Obama or Biden. Theyâre not smart.
Jim Beam is not going out of business. This is a misleading post...again.
Jim Beam is not shutting down. Their Clermont distillery will not be distilling this year. The Boston (Kentucky) will be doing all of the production while Clermont wil continue bottling and other tasks.
The reason for this is a slumping domestic market after a massive boom and the counter tariffs/trade disagreements mostly between the US and Canada, as well as the EU.
Bourbon is a uniquely American product, which makes it a prime target for counter tariffs. Several distilleries have taken a big hit, not just on the export side, but on the import side with glass and cork being two major components of premium whiskey. Also, economic turmoil/affordability certainly hurt the sale of premium whiskey.
I have been bitching for almost a year now to the DNC that they need to aggressively pursue Kentucky on these grounds. Economic loss via tourism decline, loss of jobs, and loss of tax revenue that help make better for Kentuckians is directly caused by the Trump administration. Put Dems in charge and we can fix that shit.
We gonna have a leopard obesity problem soon with all these faces they're eating!
This is completely false. Jim Beam is ceasing distilling operations at the Clermont facility for planned upgrades to the plant. It is also keeping the visitor center and restaurant open. The Distillery in Boston KY will keep up with production and they stated no lay offs.
https://preview.redd.it/ryev35x1s19g1.png?width=864&format=png&auto=webp&s=00359dee6593297f98062ae8fe9cda2a196deb6b
Oh no, what will I drink when I'm in the mood for swill? Anyway
https://preview.redd.it/3kkllfdz2z8g1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=aeb0a125ab6a2d6843bd5ef6cb4d52a83318dbf3
Read the whole article, not just a meme posted with a hyperbolic title.
I hate cheeto jesus as much as the next person but yâall have to get real. Theyâre temporarily pausing production at one facility and there will be no layoffs
Maybe now it wonât be a dry county.
âPausing production for a year.â But, yes, you deserve what you vote for.
You got Don Conned.
Yâall actually believe this before you even look something up? Jim Beam is closing one distillery for about a year for site enhancements. Operations will be moved to two other distilleries while this takes place. The employees are being placed in positions where they are needed most. Geez people. Reinvesting back in the business is a good thing.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/business/article313847580.html Itâs not about the employees. While Beam hasnât announced layoffs, Brown-Forman has. Including a pause in production. A larger view of bourbon and spirit production shows the negative effects tariffs have had on sales. Scaling back by 55 million gallons, roughly a 28% decrease, which is the lowest since 2018. Exports affected greatly: sales in Canada down 60%.
They can call it site enhancements, and it may be a good time to do them based on the lowered sales. However, if the sales weren't down by more than 1/4, they wouldn't be doing them.
Itâs not just for site enhancements. They are explicitly stating that during this shutdown they need to assess their production levels against consumer demand. Did you look this up since you asked others to?
They can't read. and those who can, can't read between the lines. It's why they always think trump is joking.
Actually I did. And they have to discuss with the union on how to move employees around. Which location needs more help due to demand.
If you did as you say, then youâd present a full picture rather than part of it. Thereâs a real discussion needing to take place because their sales have fallen. Site enhancement is being made, yes. They also have a problem with selling their product and need to reassess their production levels.
OP didn't post the full picture.
No layoffs, using it for enhancements. Only shutting down for a year because they have to age stuff for four whole years and it would help increase demand later on if tariffs get worse. Nothingburger is a nothingburger.
So you and OP have something in common. An inability to be honest.
The hell you mean?
How is it, after all my comments, that you donât know what I mean?
Sorry, the fact that you jumped so far to a conclusion you called me a liar despite me saying nothing wrong.
Good stuff there, cope harder with being called out for stupidly saying "you didn't give the full story" to the other guy who gave a hundred times more accurate story than OP.
You did lie. Lie by omission. And, you canât own up to getting it wrong. OP is a lair too. Brothers in arms, you guys are.
Ford plant also closing in KY.
Ford is not closing a major assembly plant in Kentucky in 2025, but its BlueOval SK battery plant in Glendale is ceasing EV battery production in early 2026, leading to around 1,600 layoffs as it pivots to making energy storage systems, with plans to rehire for that new venture within 18 months, while existing Ford plants continue producing gas vehicles and prepping for new EV models.
While I am not a conservative and do not share your politics or values, I agree that we fight the conservative / alt-right movement with truth and not stoop to their level of misinformation and bullshit.
Exactly. We donât have to agree politically but, letâs have honest conversations. Now whiskey sales in general are down across the board. Could it be tariffs, who knows. Could it be the record inflation that we endured that drove prices through the roof? Could be. We need a deflationary period to correct prices and to probably correct big corporate greed.
If you cared about stopping corporate greed, you'd stop voting for the party that famously supports corporate greed.
While specific total corporate profits under each president are complex to compare due to economic shifts, corporate profits reached all-time highs during Barack Obama's terms
You aren't a serious person.
I loathe that you were downvoted for speaking truth. I hate the current administration with a passion but there is tons of truth that makes that so, I donât need lies added to it. Lies is one major reason I have a problem with this administration, I sure AF donât like lies just because they knock this administration.
No oneâs drinking that slop anyway.
They havenât gone belly up. They are pausing production at its main distillery. due to rising supply compared to demand of aged whiskey amid trumps trade wars. Sheesh does anyone check facts anymore?
No surprise at that response.
âI donât want to have information presented to me that goes against what I want to believeâ. Itâs literally pointless trying to discuss with you given your response.
That says it all , good luck to you.
Excellent. Another toxic product off the market.
No shutting down, pausing to update equipment. No bankruptcy filing. No jobs lost, no layoffs. Inventory supply up due to many new players getting into the game. Careful what you believe do some simple research.
Fake news,they paused production.
This is false. Youâre hurting your own cause by posting bullshit
[deleted]
Fake news
No no no , the sales have dropped yes so they are scaling back production from the smaller distillery the large one will continue to operate.
I live in Louisville. Theyâre closing the distillery here for all of 2026. Also, why exactly would their sales be dropping? Couldnât possibly be because of tariffs driving up prices due to lack of supply. And our ever increasing instability tied to our economy meaning less people being able to afford splurging on alcohol.
It would be interesting to see data on the impact to US exports along with visitors for travel. Both hurt US producers.
Tariffs, unless production depends on import components, shouldn't directly impact the US exporter.
What does is when consumers outside the US decide to boycott like in Canada where they removed US distillers from their shelves, or countries like China who completely dropped imports in entire segments.
Corn, Rye, Wheat, & Barley are all ingredients that go into bourbon. While we grow these in the US, a sizeable chunk of supply needed for production is imported from other countries. Starting trade wars with our closest allies and slapping tariffs on majority of countries around the world including those that we import these necessities from, ends up biting us in the ass, whoâd have thunk it?
If only this had been tried repeatedly before with data to show the negative impact leading towards depressions both times. Oh well, there was no way to predict this outcome.
I agree with a lot of the points in your statement. To others the fact remains Jim beam is not going out of business all report say.
No company is going to go under that quickly unless they were on the verge for a very long time, and even then they'd file bankruptcy and get bought out.
It's more likely like Tyson shutting down factories in Nebraska, which the company can absorb and align with leaner operations.
Meanwhile, small tower towns or even larger towns heavily reliant on those companies lose their income, which decimates them.
I donât care if you live on the distillery campus you are wrong.