Bourbon industry faces uncertain future

The bourbon industry is grappling with market challenges, affecting both new and established distilleries. Several distilleries struggle with financial difficulties, threatening their operations and creating uncertainty in the industry.

Catch up with the stories below.

Four Kentucky distillers have been in the news lately with negative news: From top left, Garrard County Distilling closed and has been taken over by Truist Bank; Luca Mariano Distilling owes millions before it even opens; Brown-Forman’s stock price tanked after it reported sales down for the year; and Whiskey House of Kentucky is facing a $1.2 million lien from builder Buzick Construction.

NO. 1: WHISKEY WOES: IS KENTUCKY’S $9 BILLION BOURBON INDUSTRY ON THE ROCKS?

Following four recent pieces of bad news, industry investors might need a stiff drink. | Published June 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Bulleit Bourbon Barrel Strength Bourbon has more intense notes of butterscotch, fruit and wood than regular Bulleit Bourbon. By Charles Bertram

NO. 2: ANOTHER KENTUCKY WHISKEY BRAND REPORTS A BIG DROP IN BOURBON SALES

Another major Kentucky distiller has reported a big drop in bourbon sales. | Published August 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Whiskey House Distillery is open in Elizabethtown but isn’t offering tours or tastings at the moment.

NO. 3: ANOTHER MAJOR, NEW KY DISTILLERY FACES LIEN OVER CLAIM OF UNPAID DEBT

The Elizabethtown distillery, which dubbed itself the ‘Willy Wonka of whiskey,’ faces a lien less than a year after opening. | Published June 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

To combat overall declining sales of the Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Brown-Forman said it will launch a blackberry version later this year.

NO. 4: SALES OF JACK DANIEL’S PARENT BROWN-FORMAN PLUMMET, ERASING DECADE OF STOCK GROWTH

Shares of Kentucky bourbon giant Brown-Forman tumbled on Thursday after earnings were released. Here’s what the company predicts for the coming fiscal year. | Published June 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

The Luca Mariano Distillery is set to open June 13 in Danville. The new Kentucky distiller is facing multiple liens and a lawsuit over unpaid debts.

NO. 5: NEWLY BUILT KENTUCKY CRAFT DISTILLERY FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION

The move comes just one month after the Danville distillery’s grand opening. | Published July 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

NO. 6: BANKRUPT DANVILLE DISTILLERY OWES MORE THAN $34.5 MILLION. IT SAYS IT’LL SURVIVE

Receiver, foreclosure sought in Boyle County lawsuit | Published July 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Garrard County Distilling Co. opened this winter in Lancaster with two new column stills and a distilling capacity that makes it the largest all-new distillery. The first barrels were filled on Jan. 2, 2024.

NO. 7: SHUTTERED KENTUCKY DISTILLERY COULD SOON GO UP FOR SALE TO PAY OFF DEBTS

Garrard County Distilling has been in the hands of a receiver since April and owes Truist Bank nearly $27 million. | Published July 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Wild Turkey 101 8-Year-Old Bourbon is returning to shelves in Kentucky and elsewhere in the U.S. for the first time in nearly three decades.

NO. 8: SALES SLUMP 8% FOR KENTUCKY BOURBON WILD TURKEY DESPITE NEW RELEASES

In what might be the clearest sign yet that bourbon demand in the U.S. | Published August 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Farm Credit Mid-America of Louisville sued Nearest Green and Uncle Nearest Distillery in Tennessee, as well as founders Fawn and Keith Weaver, alleging default on $100 million in loans and seeking the appointment of a receiver to run the company. But the Weavers are opposing the move, saying they are victims of fraud.

NO. 9: KENTUCKY LENDER SUES DISTILLERY NEAREST GREEN. CEO SAYS THEY’RE VICTIMS OF FRAUD

Another prominent distiller is in financial turmoil: | Published August 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Bulleit bottles snaked their way down the assembly line to be sealed and labeled at the Stitzel-Weller facility.

NO. 10: ARE LAYOFFS COMING TO DIAGEO’S KENTUCKY DISTILLERIES? WHAT WE KNOW

As a wide array of President Trump’s tariffs kick in this week, some companies are expected to trim costs by shedding employees. | Published August 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

The Nearest Green Distillery in Tennessee will be placed in the hands of a receiver after a federal judge ruled in favor of Farm Credit’s petition to remove Fawn and Keith Weaver from operating it for now.

NO. 11: JUDGE ORDERS RECEIVERSHIP FOR TROUBLED UNCLE NEAREST WHISKEY DISTILLERY

Troubled Tennessee distillery Nearest Green will be taken out of the hands of founder Fawn Weaver and her husband, Keith. | Published August 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Nearest Green founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest Fawn Weaver posted an online rebuttal to the allegations in a lawsuit filed by a Kentucky lender seeking to have a receiver appointed for the distillery.

NO. 12: COULD BANKRUPTCY BE IN THE WORKS FOR A POTENTIALLY INSOLVENT WHISKEY START-UP?

What’s next for Uncle Nearest, the troubled whiskey brand heading into receivership? | Published August 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

NO. 13: BOURBON DISTILLER’S MEDIATION BID REJECTED. JUDGE: FOUNDER’S COMMENTS ‘TROUBLING’

A bid by Uncle Nearest founder Fawn Weaver to send the distressed whiskey brand to a mediator and potential sale has been rejected. | Published August 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Limestone Farms Distillery in Georgetown is facing more than $2 million in liens and a lawsuit over unpaid bills. By Tasha Poullard

NO. 14: KY BOURBON ASSOCIATED WITH FORMER UK QB TIM COUCH SUED, FACES $2M+ LIENS

A Kentucky bourbon distillery that included Kentucky football legend Tim Couch as a partner is facing more than $2 million in liens and multiple lawsuits. | Published August 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

NO. 15: WHAT’S NEXT FOR TROUBLED, MAJOR WHISKEY BRAND NOW IN RECEIVERSHIP?

A federal judge in Tennessee has appointed Phillip G. | Published August 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.