Wind the clock back just two months ago and Jim Beam was making headlines for halting production at one of its Kentucky distilleries for a least a year as the industry navigated an ever-evolving trade war and slowing demand, among other headwinds.
And that bumpy ride is still far from over.
But the Kentucky Distillers' Association's recent economic report puts a sunnier spin on what's been a gloomy outlook in recent months.
According to the report, the industry increased its economic impact in the state — going from $9 billion in 2024 to $10.6 billion in 2025. And jobs? Those are reportedly up as well in the long term. The latest data show 800 more jobs opening up over that same span.
So what's the secret sauce allowing bourbon to thrive in a less-than-ideal atmosphere? Andrea Wilson, chief operating officer of Michter's Distillery in Louisville, told WHAS the industry has a good nose, not just for whiskey aromas but in building durable foundations.
"The industry has always done a good job of ebbs and flows because we're producing things for today that are for many years into the future," she said. "Nobody has a crystal ball of what the future looks like, but as trends change and as information comes to you, you have to adjust your forecast."
That doesn't mean distillers are set, no matter what. Several distilleries have filed for bankruptcy over the last year, for example. But that hasn't completely erased the progress the industry had in adding facilities over the last two years.