Jim Beam is shutting whisky production at its historic Kentucky distillery for all of 2026. The move puts nearly 1,500 jobs at risk as a glut caused by the trade war floods America's whisky heartland. But the bourbon oversupply that prompted the closure could be good news for drinkers seeking bargains.
The shutdown marks a turbulent year for US bourbon producers. After President Trump's tariffs triggered a Canadian consumer boycott in March, US spirits exports collapsed by 85% through the summer, according to the industry group, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.
