Jim Beam, the maker of the popular bourbon whiskey, will reportedly pause production at its main Kentucky distillery for all of 2026. Jim Beam is owned by Japanese drinks giant Suntory Global Spirits, which employs over 1,000 people across its Kentucky sites. The company is also evaluating how to deploy its workforce during the production pause and is in discussions with the workers’ union. Kentucky distillers have been affected by US trade policies under President Donald Trump. The Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) has highlighted the industry’s struggles with an oversupply of bourbon.

Source: The Telegraph December 22, 2025 07:41 UTC