Osaka, Japan-based Suntory Global Spirits, the Japanese multinational brewing and distilling company, has announced that its subsidiary James B. Beam Distilling Co. will shut down distillation operations at its Clermont, Kentucky, facility in 2026 and move all distilling production to its Booker Noe plant in Boston, Kentucky.
It is unknown how many employees will be affected.
According to a company statement, “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 [Freddie Booker Noe] 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.”
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