I heard a week or three ago that 'Ol Jim Beam took a "pause" in distillery cuz nobody is drinkin the hard stuff any more. Also heard this week booze consumption was hugely down throughout the good ol USA. Guess the younger Gen is so much into there fizz drinks that it is effecting a whole industry.
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Wowzers -
This is a thing. (Remember, I work around countless 20 year olds.) The difference between now and a decade ago is striking. An ever-increasing number of college students aren't into drinking. They want and seek out alcohol-free experiences. Mocktails are extremely hot right now.Comment
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I read that multiple distilleries across Kentucky are sitting on about 300 million cases worth of product right now. Now, I’m not sure how far off that is from normal stockpiles, but I’d assume less drinking, less spending on vices like drinking and a few countries refusing imports of US alcohol is probably playing a large role.Comment
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What Michael_in_TX says has been reported for a few years now, it's hitting all of the alcohol avenues; beer, wine, and hard stuff. As a daily wine drinker I see it in the pricing of wine, not a dramatic drop in prices, but better quality for what use to be lower quality pricing. Not so much with beer or booze. The whiskies I like are holding their price, but availability is improving. For a common known product, Buffalo Trace, what was once a fast mover off the shelves is now in stock longer and not as much or any speculative market for it. Beer looks to be a market of attrition. Brands either leaving the market (plenty in the craft segment) or producers adjusting to lower volume sales. Marketing is a fascinating world...Comment
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I can't get Buffalo Trace here. It's like it's limited 'import' into OK, like I can find A single bottle maybe once or twice a year. I don't go to the liquor store every week, but when I do, I look, and it's almost never available. But when I go to MO or TX, I can buy cases of it anywhere. I usually pick up a few bottles - this last trip to TX, I grabbed 4 750mL bottles and it's been my nightcap now for a few weeks. Loving it.
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I read that article too. Many are switching over to THC drinks for another option without the hangovers. With the huge uptick in GLP-1 popularity, it's curbed the appetites for alcohol as well.Comment
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If you offer me the choice, i will take thc every time.
Edit: I cook with it. I make cooking oils, honeys, butters, and add little bits into pan sauces, and mashed potatoes, into salads, yogurt, etc..Last edited by Richard Chrz; May 17, 2026, 06:21 PM.
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Many alcohol free bars have opened in Denver. Dined out the other night at a local spot, definitely not high end. A short pour house red wine was $12. Wife had two glasses, $24 bucks. You can buy a box of Black Box for $18. which is 4 bottles. Cost of alcohol plus as said younger people aren't into it. Also a DUI isn't fun. Back in the day the cops would drive you home and tell you not to get your car until morning. Times have certainly changed.Comment
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I’m doing my best to keep the bourbon market afloat FireMan but I need some help. Who’s with me???Comment
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Local liquor store here had large selection of craft beer. It took up a big part of the store. The other day, I was in there for the first time in months and 80% of the craft beer was gone, replaced by seltzer .
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Seltzer game is strong these days. I have a monthly subscription to a 4-pack of Delta seltzer (lemon lime 5mg) delivered to the house around the first of every month. Enjoy them on occasion. I think they make them up to 20mg but I'm pretty sensitive to THC so 5mg is perfect. I don't really need Spinaker dosage on that stuff 🤣😂🤣Last edited by Hulagn1971; May 17, 2026, 07:50 PM.
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I've been trying to keep them boys in business (not Jim beam, gross, but the whiskey world)... also heard Buffalo Trace is considering buying Jack Daniel's...'tis but a rumor I heard, I have not confirmed this with research of any sort.Comment
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Skinsfan1311 realdocBBQ Yes, me too, referring only to their flagship swill that everyone thinks of when the names are mentioned. I've done a direct side by side betwixt JD and JB, and JD is better, but not great. However, as you're likely aware, Jack Daniel's has some *absolutely outstanding* single barrel barrel-proof rye, some of the best on planet earth. I can tolerate Knob Creek as a mixer, but in general I've not been wowed by any Beam products. -
Huskee I am very interested in that rye you mentioned. I am going to have to look into it. If it is not too ridiculously expensive, I may look for a bottle. I love me a good rye. Knob Creek is 'ok', but I wouldn't say I was impressed with it. Nor Elijah's Craig's, though I usually like their stuff a lot. I much prefer Woodford Reserve rye. Not sure what my 'fav' is, but I will choose Sazerac regularly as my daily rye. -
realdocBBQ JD has both a Single Barrel Rye (really good) and the harder-to-find Single Barrel *Barrel Proof* Rye, which is the outstanding one. If you can find it I'd wager you won't be disappointed.
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In Michigan, pot is legal. Pretty much everyone has a vice of some sort. Nowadays people also smoke or gummi their pleasure.Comment
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My tin hat theory is that the THC companies are paying off our politicians in Indiana to keep THC out. On a strictly fact finding mission, I have driven to the dispensaries in MI and IL near the state lines and an overwhelming majority of cars have IN plates. Hmmm. I wonder what goes on inside those places?!? :-) -
mrteddyprincess our tavern league and liquor lobby in Wi have been successful for the most part, but they are feeling it.
Every state that borders us is legal. Our city has decriminalized it i believe.Last edited by Richard Chrz; May 18, 2026, 07:08 PM.
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I bought a bottle of Jim Beam 2-3 decades ago. Poured it over some ice. Took a sip and about gagged thinking this S€!¥ tastes like dirt. I was a Jack drinker then, but pretty much only drink bourbon now. However, I cannot get myself to even try Jim Beam again though I’m sure I’ve drank other bottles under their family of names.
I’ve read the similar stories even speculation that there’s a 10 year bourbon surplus sitting In barrels aging and that Jim Beam ceased all distilling until at least 2027. However, I haven’t seen prices dropping, nor found Blanton’s any easier to find. I am looking forward to more 9-12 year ages at affordable prices if it all is true though.Comment
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I never developed a taste for it.
That probably has something to do with chugging half a bottle of Corby’s and waking up in jail in Clairton, PA, when I was 18.Comment
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Funny you mention hangovers... obviously many of us have matured to know that is much more a function of self-control than anything. I had one 'mild' hangover a month or more ago when I visited my friend SmokerBuilder Frank Cox up in MO and I really tied one on in his shop when we finished building a trailer. BUT... I wasn't drinking rotgut stuff, I think it was Woodford rye or something, AND I STILL didn't tie it on as badly as I might have in college or many others might have. So, all I had was a mild headache the next day. Certainly haven't had what I'd consider a 'true' hangover in... hell, I dunno, years.Originally posted by Hulagn1971 View Post
I agree it seems like the 'fizzy crowd' is buying - I see these things in the stores, some kind of carbonated alcohol drinks. Lined up with the $5 Monsters and such, I just can't imagine paying that. It's like the modern day Zima or something. lolComment
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Zima....oh dear....I remember that. Looking back, that marketing campaign was right at 21-25 year old drinkers. -
Zima, lol. I remember that advertising. Around here, the ladies went for it all the time. The rest of us, we tried it once. Or twice. And that was enough. We were bummed when they took away the wine coolers. Those things really helped us become more handsome to the females.
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That came out back in December. I read that they're going to take time off for upgrades & improvements at the Clermont facility, (the one's that's closing), as well. We visited the distillery in 2017 and it can definitely use some TLC. They have plenty in barrels in the warehouses and I'm looking forward to the release of some well-aged whiskey in the future.Originally posted by FireMan View Post
I believe that some of the articles are a little disingenuous as Beam operates 3 distilleries and the Clermont facility is the one t's pausing.
They have plenty in barrels in the warehouses and I'm looking forward to the release of some well-aged whiskey in the future.Comment
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