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World-famous Kentucky whiskey brand Jim Beam is reportedly closing its Clermont production facility from January 1 through the end of 2026. The company is moving production to the larger Booker Noe Distillery in Boston, Kentucky.
The company said in a statement cited by multiple outlets that it is “always assessing production levels to best meet consumer demand.” It added that there was recent discussion about 2026 volumes.
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Barrels of bourbon are stacked in a barrel house at the Jim Beam Distillery in Clermont, Kentucky on February 17, 2020. (Bryan Woolston/Getty Images/Getty Images)
“We have shared with our teams that while we will continue to distill at our FBN craft distillery in Clermont and at our larger Booker Noe Distillery in Boston, we plan to pause distillation at our main distillery on the James B. Beam campus through 2026 while we take the opportunity to invest in site improvements,” the company said in its statement.
Tourists wanting to explore the Kentucky Bourbon Trail can still go to the Visitor Center on the James B. Beam campus, which remains open despite the production pause, “so visitors can have the full James B. Beam experience,” the company wrote. It added that its restaurant, The Kitchen Table, would also remain open during this period. In addition, bottling and storage will still be operational at the Claremont facility, the Leader of Lexington Herald reported.
The entrance to the James B. Beam Distillery in Clermont, Ky., on Monday, July 25, 2022. (Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)
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Jim Beam’s parent company, Suntory Global Spirits, said the pause would allow it to meet customer demands while making upgrades to the Clermont plant. according to WDRB. The outlet also noted that the Clermont plant also produces Knob Creek, Baker’s, Booker’s and Basil Hayden’s in addition to Jim Beam.
Bottles of Jim Beam American whiskey go on sale at a liquor store on November 27, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Scott Olson/Getty Images/Getty Images)
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According to the Lexington Herald Leader, Kentucky’s $9 billion bourbon industry is facing a glut in supply and a slump in demand. The exhaust had previously reported that whiskey production had fallen to the lowest level in years, based on data from the Ministry of Finance. However, it is unclear if this is a reason behind Jim Beam’s decision to make upgrades and pause production at the Clermont factory.
