LOUISVILLE, KY. (WDRB) — Jim Beam is pausing distillation at its Clermont, Kentucky, facility for all of 2026, shifting production to the Booker Noe plant in Boston, Kentucky, according to our partners at Louisville Business First.
Bottling and warehousing at Clermont will continue, and the visitor center and The Kitchen Table restaurant will remain open.
Suntory Global Spirits, Jim Beam’s parent company, said the pause will allow upgrades at the Clermont distillery while keeping up with customer demand.
The 420-acre Clermont campus also produces Knob Creek, Baker’s, Booker’s and Basil Hayden’s.
Industry experts said the move reflects a larger trend in bourbon production as Kentucky faces a record 16.1 million barrels aging, according to the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.
In a statement, Jim Beam said it is "always assessing production levels."
"We are always assessing production levels to best meet consumer demand and recently met with our team to discuss our volumes for 2026. We’ve 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 for 2026 while we take the opportunity to invest in site enhancements. Our visitor center at the James B. Beam campus remains open so visitors can have the full James B. Beam experience and join us for a meal at The Kitchen Table."
Distilling will continue at the Fred B. Noe craft distillery in Clermont and at the larger Booker Noe facility in Boston.
According to Louisville Business First, a union rep said there are currently no layoffs.
"Employees in our distillery department are being reassigned within the company, and as of now, there are no layoffs," the union said.
"We will continue to work with Jim Beam to protect jobs and ensure long-term stability for all of our members."
More Local News:
Louisville attorney offering free Uber rides home on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Man shot during officer-involved shooting on Bardstown Road
Louisville man charged with murder in September Phoenix Hill shooting
Kentucky attorney general recaps successes of 2025, priorities heading into new year
Copyright 2025 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
