Jim Beam to Shut Kentucky Distillery for 2026 to Upgrade Facilities
Jim Beam will shut its main distillery in Kentucky for the entire year of 2026 to focus on site enhancements. During this period, production levels will be reassessed to align with demand, with discussions ongoing with employees about 2026 volumes. Despite the main distillery closure, other Kentucky operations, including a separate distillery, bottling, and warehousing plants, will continue to operate next year, and the visitor centre will remain open.
Owned by Suntory Global Spirits, Jim Beam employs over 1,000 people across its Kentucky facilities. The company is in talks with the workers' union to determine how best to utilize the workforce during the production pause. This strategic move comes amid ongoing uncertainties faced by Kentucky distillers related to trade policies under former President Trump and retaliatory tariffs.
In October, the Kentucky Distillers' Association (KDA) reported a record stock of more than 16 million barrels in state warehouses, with taxes on these barrels totaling approximately $75 million for the year. The KDA has called for a rapid return to reciprocal, tariff-free trade to address challenges posed by tensions between the US and Canada, which have impacted spirits sales.
