Kentucky's bourbon distilleries have ratcheted up production again in 2017, boosting overall inventory to 7.5 million barrels of aging whiskey, reports The Washington Times. That's the highest volume since 1972, says the Kentucky Distillers' Association. Rounds of distillery expansions and start-ups have put the sector on a trajectory toward higher production, but an industry leader warns that trade disputes in key overseas markets remain a threat to bourbon producers.
If tariffs curtail bourbon consumption in those markets abroad, the industry could be left with a large whiskey inventory to sell by trying to boost sales in the U.S. and in countries unaffected by trade disputes, says the industry group. An abundance of whiskey could affect pricing, hurting not only large distillers but especially the fledgling craft distilling market. Last year, Kentucky's overall spirits production, made up of mostly bourbon, surpassed 1.7 million barrels for just the second time since 1968, an increase of 129,000 barrels from 2016, according to the report. Full Story
Related: Boozy Ice Cream to Boost Growth; Vermont's Distilleries Are Thriving.
from Specialty Food News https://ift.tt/2OXkMP8
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