85% drop in spirits exported from U.S. to Canada between April and June
Pour one out for Jim Beam.
The maker of one of the U.S.’s most iconic bourbon whiskies is halting production at its flagship distillery in Kentucky for all of 2026 amid the ongoing challenges and strain faced by the U.S. liquor industry — part of the fallout from Trump’s trade war.
In a statement provided to CBC News Monday, the James B. Beam Distilling Co. confirmed that “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.”
“We are always assessing production levels to best meet consumer demand and recently met with our team to discuss our volumes for 2026,” the statement says.
The company said it will continue to distill at its smaller FBN craft distillery, which makes experimental brands, and at its Booker Noe distillery in Boston, Ky. The company will also still bottle and warehouse stock at its flagship location in Clermont, Ky.
Bourbon maker Jim Beam halts Kentucky production amid ongoing trade tensions | CBC News