The Whiskey Reviewer A World of Whiskey, Poured Every Weekday
By Richard Thomas
According to data released by the Kentucky Distillers Association (KDA), the Kentucky bourbon industry is fast approaching its high water production mark. In 2015, KDA members filled 1.88 million barrels of bourbon, the most it was in 48 years and a 44% increase over 2014. The all-time high was reached in 1967, before the world whiskey slump of the 1970s, when 1,922,009 barrels filled.
That breakneck production rate built up Kentucky’s stock as well, raising the number of bourbon barrels warehoused and aging in the state to 6,657,063. This is the highest level whiskey stock has reached since 1974. Barrels of other whiskeys and spirits in storage stands at 7.2 million. It’s often said there are more barrels of bourbon in Kentucky than people, but now the ratio is about 1.5 barrels per person.
This enormous increase in production has been fueled in part by the surge in popularity and demand, but also in part by the generous tax incentives offered by the state government under the administration of former governor Steve Beshear (D). With more distilleries on the way and expansion projects coming online, it’s only a matter of time before both production and stock in Kentucky set new all-time records. This mark could be passed as early as 2016, and if not, will probably be passed in 2017.
