As worldwide demand for Bourbon continues to soar, so will our jobs, economic growth, tax dollars, and tourism in communities across Kentucky.

• Kentucky Bourbon is a $9 billion economic and tourism powerhouse for the Commonwealth, now generating more jobs, more payroll, more tax revenue, more tourists, and more distilleries in more Kentucky counties than ever before.
• Distillers filled a record 2.6 million barrels last year, up from 2.4 million in 2021, and marking the fourth consecutive year surpassing 2 million barrels.
• Bourbon provides Kentucky families with more than 23,100 good-paying, stable jobs.
• Bourbon in Kentucky has an annual payroll topping $1.63 billion.
• Bourbon in Kentucky provides $358 million in local and state taxes each year.

Kentucky’s status as the one, true and authentic home for Bourbon takes ongoing commitment.

• While Kentucky’s recent distilling growth is significant, we have fallen far behind the growth rates of competitor states.
• Kentucky now has less than 3% of all distilling permits nationwide, whereas the state held 25% of all permits just 10 years ago.
• There are now 4,450 distilled spirits licensed operations in the U.S. with only 128 in Kentucky.
• Kentucky fell from 11th to 12th nationally in number of distilleries last year, federal data show.
• Since 2015, Kentucky has been surpassed in number of distilleries by Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Florida.
• Kentucky still makes 95% of the world’s Bourbon, but any distilleries Kentucky loses to other states could grow into major producers.
• Tequila and agave spirits outsold all American whiskeys for the first time ever in 2021.
• Will clear spirits resurge in the market, pushing Kentucky distillers back into the bust days of the 1970s and ’80s?