Business · Trade · 2 hrs ago
Canadian alcohol bans cut Kentucky bourbon exports
In March 2025, Canadian provinces removed American alcohol from stores in response to US tariffs.
The bans cut off a major market for Kentucky distillers, including Tom and Kim Bard, who had sold their bourbon in British Columbia and Alberta.
US spirits exports to Canada fell 70 per cent, from US$232 million to US$72 million, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.
Kentucky bourbon and other whiskies shipped to Canada also fell 42.4 per cent in 2025 compared with 2024, according to the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.
The Bards opened a tasting room in Bardstown, Kentucky, to bring in revenue, but have paused hiring and construction plans.
They hope a US-Canada trade deal will restore access to the Canadian market.
Canadian provinces banned the sale of American alcohol in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, cutting Kentucky distillers off from a major trading partner.
The bans began in March 2025, and most provinces still had them in place at the time of the report.
U.S. spirits exports to Canada fell from US$232 million a year before the ban to US$72 million, a 70 per cent decline.
Kentucky bourbon and other Kentucky whiskies exported to Canada fell 42.4 per cent, from US$43.7 million in 2024 to US$25.2 million in 2025.
Some distillers have turned to local sales, while pausing hiring and construction plans.
- Who
- Kentucky distillers, including Tom and Kim Bard of Bard Distillery.
- What
- Canadian provincial bans on American alcohol have reduced Kentucky bourbon exports to Canada.
- When
- The bans began in March 2025. Most provinces still had them in place at the time of the report.
- Where
- Canada and Kentucky, United States.
- Why
- The provinces banned American alcohol in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Tom and Kim Bard opened their distillery in Graham, Kentucky.
Canadian provinces pulled American alcohol and spirits from store shelves in response to U.S. tariffs.
Kentucky bourbon and other Kentucky whiskies exported to Canada fell from US$43.7 million to US$25.2 million.
- Canadian ban
- Most provinces still had the ban in place at the time of the report
- U.S. spirits exports to Canada
- Fell from US$232 million to US$72 million
- Export decline
- 70 per cent for U.S. spirits exports to Canada
- Kentucky whisky exports
- Fell from US$43.7 million in 2024 to US$25.2 million in 2025
- Distillery
- Bard Distillery opened in Graham, Kentucky, in 2019
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What people are saying
Suddenly that was a revenue stream that we had just overnight lost and we’re still trying to get it back
I keep telling people, ‘stop the roller coaster,’ let us get off because we’re caught up in the middle of this on again, off again thing and we can’t predict our income
We’re not just talking about the whiskey in the bottle, we’re talking about the entire supply chain being impacted