Jim Beam Distillery to Halt Clermont Production from January 1, 2026
American Whiskey Association President and CEO Michael Bilello joins ‘Mornings with Maria’ to discuss how tariffs and shifting consumer trends are impacting U.S. whiskey exports.
World-renowned Kentucky whiskey brand Jim Beam is set to close its production facility in Clermont starting January 1, 2026, through the end of that year. The company plans to shift production to its larger Booker Noe distillery located in Boston, Kentucky.
In a statement shared with various media outlets, Jim Beam emphasized that it is “always assessing production levels to best meet consumer demand.” The company also mentioned that discussions regarding its production volumes for 2026 have recently taken place.
JACK DANIEL’S MAKER REVEALS SURPRISING REASON WHY AMERICANS ARE DRINKING LESS WHISKEY
Barrels of bourbon are stacked in a barrel house at the Jim Beam Distillery on Feb. 17, 2020, in Clermont, Kentucky. (Bryan Woolston/Getty Images / Getty Images)
“We’ve 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 stated.
Despite the production pause, tourists visiting the Kentucky Bourbon Trail will still have access to the visitors center at the James B. Beam campus, which will remain open. The company assures that visitors can enjoy the full James B. Beam experience. Additionally, the on-site restaurant, The Kitchen Table, will continue to operate during this period. Bottling and warehousing will also remain functional at the Clermont facility, as reported by the Lexington Herald Leader.
The entrance of the James B. Beam distillery in Clermont, Ky., on Monday, July 25, 2022. (Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
BEVERAGE GIANTS TARGET ‘FOURTH CATEGORY’ OF ALCOHOLIC DRINKS TO BRING IN YOUNGER GENERATION
Jim Beam’s parent company, Suntory Global Spirits, stated that this pause will enable them to meet customer demands while making necessary upgrades to the Clermont facility. According to WDRB, the Clermont facility is also responsible for producing Knob Creek, Baker’s, Booker’s, and Basil Hayden’s.
Bottles of the American whiskey Jim Beam are offered for sale in a liquor store on Nov. 27, 2023 in Chicago, Ill. (Scott Olson/Getty Images / Getty Images)
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Kentucky’s bourbon industry, valued at $9 billion, is currently facing a significant supply issue alongside a decline in demand, as reported by the Lexington Herald Leader. The outlet previously noted that whiskey production has dropped to its lowest levels in years, based on data from the Treasury Department. However, it remains uncertain if this decline influenced Jim Beam’s decision to upgrade and pause production at its Clermont facility.
FOX Business has reached out to Jim Beam for further comments.
American Whiskey Association President and CEO Michael Bilello joins ‘Mornings with Maria’ to discuss how tariffs and shifting consumer trends are impacting U.S. whiskey exports.
World-renowned Kentucky whiskey brand Jim Beam is set to close its production facility in Clermont starting January 1, 2026, through the end of that year. The company plans to shift production to its larger Booker Noe distillery located in Boston, Kentucky.
In a statement shared with various media outlets, Jim Beam emphasized that it is “always assessing production levels to best meet consumer demand.” The company also mentioned that discussions regarding its production volumes for 2026 have recently taken place.
JACK DANIEL’S MAKER REVEALS SURPRISING REASON WHY AMERICANS ARE DRINKING LESS WHISKEY
Barrels of bourbon are stacked in a barrel house at the Jim Beam Distillery on Feb. 17, 2020, in Clermont, Kentucky. (Bryan Woolston/Getty Images / Getty Images)
“We’ve 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 stated.
Despite the production pause, tourists visiting the Kentucky Bourbon Trail will still have access to the visitors center at the James B. Beam campus, which will remain open. The company assures that visitors can enjoy the full James B. Beam experience. Additionally, the on-site restaurant, The Kitchen Table, will continue to operate during this period. Bottling and warehousing will also remain functional at the Clermont facility, as reported by the Lexington Herald Leader.
The entrance of the James B. Beam distillery in Clermont, Ky., on Monday, July 25, 2022. (Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
BEVERAGE GIANTS TARGET ‘FOURTH CATEGORY’ OF ALCOHOLIC DRINKS TO BRING IN YOUNGER GENERATION
Jim Beam’s parent company, Suntory Global Spirits, stated that this pause will enable them to meet customer demands while making necessary upgrades to the Clermont facility. According to WDRB, the Clermont facility is also responsible for producing Knob Creek, Baker’s, Booker’s, and Basil Hayden’s.
Bottles of the American whiskey Jim Beam are offered for sale in a liquor store on Nov. 27, 2023 in Chicago, Ill. (Scott Olson/Getty Images / Getty Images)
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
Kentucky’s bourbon industry, valued at $9 billion, is currently facing a significant supply issue alongside a decline in demand, as reported by the Lexington Herald Leader. The outlet previously noted that whiskey production has dropped to its lowest levels in years, based on data from the Treasury Department. However, it remains uncertain if this decline influenced Jim Beam’s decision to upgrade and pause production at its Clermont facility.
FOX Business has reached out to Jim Beam for further comments.
