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Iconic American industry hit with wave of bankruptcies as companies scramble amid plunging demand
DAILYMAIL.COM ^ | 6 August 2025 | ALICE WRIGHT,

Posted on 08/06/2025 3:03:09 AM PDT by dennisw

A wave of American whiskey distilleries are collapsing under the weight of mounting debt, falling demand, and rising global tensions — signaling a crisis for the once-booming industry.

The latest to fall the owner of the Luca Mariano Distillery in Danville, Kentucky, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month with an estimated $25 million in debt.

Owner Francesco Viola said he hopes the business can 'emerge successfully, ideally with the support of its employees, customers, community and creditors.'

Luca Mariano follows the high-profile collapse of Garrard County Distilling, a $250 million independent Kentucky distillery that was placed into receivership and shut down in April after defaulting on debt.

And in late 2023, the iconic Kentucky Owl, founded in 1879, also filed for bankruptcy — citing slumping sales and a crippling cyberattack that halted operations.

Sales are drying up as price-sensitive and health-conscious American consumers pull back on spirits.

Campari-owned Wild Turkey saw an 8 percent decline in US sales during the first half of 2025, while Jack Daniel’s dropped 6 percent year-over-year.

In January, Jack Daniel's parent company Brown-Forman announced layoffs affecting 12 percent of its workforce and the closure of a major barrel-making facility in Louisville.

Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey also fell 6 percent year-over-year, its latest report revealed.

'This has been an extremely difficult time for distillers across the country who are dealing with increased production costs, a slowdown in spirits sales in the U.S. marketplace, and a significant disruption to spirits exports due to threat of tariffs and retaliation related to ongoing trade disputes,

Another major hurdle for this industry is that Canada, the US spirits second largest export market, is keeping whisky off its store shelves in protest at Trump's punitive trade policies against the nation.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet; Conspiracy
KEYWORDS: aa; sober

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1 posted on 08/06/2025 3:03:09 AM PDT by dennisw
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To: dennisw

Hard liquor pendulum swings again.

I’ll tell my brothers to drink more...I rarely touch the stuff...


2 posted on 08/06/2025 3:12:21 AM PDT by Adder (End fascism...defeat all Democrats.)
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To: dennisw

People just don’t have that much cash to spend on “extras” and frivolous items. Ozempic also curbs your appetite for alcohol. Beer sales are also down.


3 posted on 08/06/2025 3:17:06 AM PDT by dennisw (There is no limit to human stupidity)
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To: dennisw

Cocktails seemed pretty trendy a few years ago, but I get the feeling that Gen Z doesn’t drink much at all. Not all of them are old enough to drink, but some of them are close to 30 now. If the 20-something market isn’t there, it’s gonna hurt.


4 posted on 08/06/2025 3:19:51 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (The list of things I no longer care about is long. And it's getting longer.)
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To: dennisw

In 1913 the US income tax was passed. Before that the Federal Gov’t was funded by tariffs, alcohol and tobacco taxes. The ATF enforced these taxes and still does. (firearms taxes too)


5 posted on 08/06/2025 3:20:30 AM PDT by dennisw (There is no limit to human stupidity)
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To: dennisw

“who are dealing with increased production costs”

BS, their costs are now not much more than before Covid.

“a slowdown in spirits sales in the U.S. marketplace.”

Yes because they would rather go bankrupt than lower their prices. They raised them during Covid and insist on keeping them up at Covid prices.

“and a significant disruption to spirits exports due to threat of tariffs and retaliation related to ongoing trade disputes,”

This is true, the lack of this market is hurting them. But only because they refuse to lower prices to sell more in our own market. Beer is the same way, it is 150% more than it should be.

The booze industry is pricing themselves right out of business. Many industries are doing that, they just absolutely refuse to go back to pre-covid sensible pricing.


6 posted on 08/06/2025 3:21:36 AM PDT by Openurmind (AI - An Illusion for Aptitude Intrusion to Alter Intellect. )
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To: Openurmind

I’ll Drink To That !!!


7 posted on 08/06/2025 3:29:21 AM PDT by Big Red Badger (ALL Things Will be Revealed !)
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To: Openurmind

The Z’s smoke weed or vape and/or injest edibles. They head to the dispensary and make their purchases often with a medical card purchased by their parents yet most say they either don’t drink at all or hardly ever.


8 posted on 08/06/2025 3:33:26 AM PDT by Boardwalk
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To: dennisw

I mentioned this on another thread. Younger people don’t drink like they used to. Their choice of a buzz is weed. It is rampant. Weed produces a nice buzz with zero hangover. Plus booze has gotten expensive.


9 posted on 08/06/2025 3:34:02 AM PDT by Hyman Roth
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To: Openurmind

I agree. Jack Daniels especially is ridiculously priced.


10 posted on 08/06/2025 3:43:43 AM PDT by FLNittany
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To: Hyman Roth

I just read a few days ago that weed sales have dropped a lot recently too. I think they were selling well when states legalized it and too many stores opened and now prices and overall sales are going down a lot. Though I haven’t done much research on it.


11 posted on 08/06/2025 3:46:16 AM PDT by escapefromboston (Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.)
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To: dennisw

Kids are into coolers. The distilleries should adapt by coming out a cooler variant of whiskies.


12 posted on 08/06/2025 3:47:31 AM PDT by Jonty30 (If you put some water in your gas tank, with your gas, the gas will stay in the tank longer.)
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To: Big Red Badger

It is easy to judge industry price fixing and price gouging. Just judge their markup and pricing compared to Hot Dogs and Baloney. Before Covid they were $1 a package. During Covid they went to $1.50 a package. Now they dropped back down 25% to $1.25 a package. So this is only 25% more than before Covid. It should be close to the same across the board on all products as an average, not still 100% to 150%...


13 posted on 08/06/2025 3:48:43 AM PDT by Openurmind (AI - An Illusion for Aptitude Intrusion to Alter Intellect. )
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To: dennisw

May not be popular but Trump is killing them.


14 posted on 08/06/2025 3:51:17 AM PDT by Carry me back (Cut the feds by 90%)
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To: dennisw

Come on people! The DemonRATS need more drunken voters!!! Hrumpf! Hrumpf!


15 posted on 08/06/2025 3:56:59 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (They brought down the WTC now we're electing them to all government positions in the U.S.)
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To: FLNittany

“Jack Daniels especially is ridiculously priced.”

It all is, I like to have a beer once in awhile. Some stores a six pack of decent beer is now almost $20. And they wonder why sales are down... The far too obvious price gouging insults intelligence...


16 posted on 08/06/2025 3:57:51 AM PDT by Openurmind (AI - An Illusion for Aptitude Intrusion to Alter Intellect. )
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To: dennisw

Total wine has trouble keeping Evan Williams in stock.
The stuff is flying off the shelf.


17 posted on 08/06/2025 3:58:01 AM PDT by READINABLUESTATE (‘Never trust a man whose uncle was eaten by cannibals’)
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To: dennisw

Younger generation are definitely NOT bourbon and scotch drinkers!!!


18 posted on 08/06/2025 4:00:00 AM PDT by Trump Girl Kit Cat (Yosemite Sam raising hell )
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To: escapefromboston

They haven’t stopped selling in NC. Every time I go somewhere smells like they just got through burning one. 😎😂🤷‍♂️. You could be right.


19 posted on 08/06/2025 4:02:02 AM PDT by Hyman Roth
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To: READINABLUESTATE

Because Evan is a pretty good bourbon fairly priced. I can’t afford the others.


20 posted on 08/06/2025 4:03:46 AM PDT by Hyman Roth
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