Kentucky Boasts a Record Number of Aging Whiskey Casks

Saturday, 11 October 2025 at 12:02

In the Kentucky in the United States, nearly 17 million casks of whiskey and bourbon barrels are aging. It's a record-breaking year for the country, but that's not entirely positive.

FAQ

What is the primary whiskey-producing region in the U.S.?
Kentucky.
How much whiskey is currently aging in Kentucky?
Over 16 million barrels.
When is this whiskey expected to be ready?
Not until around 2030.

The Kentucky Distillers’ Association has released its figures for the past year to date. These include information on the state of the whiskey and bourbon industry and the number of aging barrels.

The latter is quite impressive, as more than 16 million barrels lie quietly in warehouses. This accounts only for barrels stored in Kentucky filled with whiskey or bourbon. This means there's even more whiskey aging elsewhere in the U.S.

The KDA calls this a sign of blossoming, although there is a downside to the aging whiskey.

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A significant tax burden

The whiskeys are subject to a considerable tax load. Aside from the maintenance and storage of the whiskey, tax costs are estimated at around $75 million this year.

This is 27% more than last year and even 164% more than five years ago. According to Eric Gregory, Chairman of the KDA, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to taxation:

'And remember: most of these barrels won’t be ready to bottle until 2030 and beyond. We must be ready for that time. Kentucky is poised long-term to continue leading American whiskey into new global markets, new opportunities and through challenging headwinds.'

- Eric Gregory

The future of American whiskey is largely dependent on U.S. policy, according to the KDA. Therefore, it's critical to consider a sensible policy that doesn't involve complicated levies.

For example, import duties have impacted distilleries much harder than necessary. This should have been avoided. Additionally, there are various retaliatory and punitive tariffs that, according to the KDA, are unnecessary.

So, a large pool of aging whiskey may sound like a dream that will bear fruit in a few years. In reality, it's also a cost that requires immediate investment that not everyone can afford.