Jim Beam to pause production at its main plant in 2026
NPR••business
Key Points:
- Jim Beam is pausing production at its flagship distillery in Clermont, Kentucky, for the remainder of the year while investing in site enhancements, but will continue distilling bourbon at two other Kentucky locations.
- The pause is influenced by factors such as tariffs, changing drinking preferences, and global market uncertainties, which have also caused other distilleries to intermittently stall production.
- The production halt is expected to impact the local economy, affecting jobs not only at the distillery but also in related sectors like trucking, farming, and bottling.
- Local officials and industry veterans remain optimistic, viewing the pause as a temporary setback and expressing confidence in the bourbon industry's long-term resilience.
- Despite the production pause, bourbon supply remains strong
