Key Takeaways
- U.S. per capita bourbon consumption 0.8 liters in 2023
- 40% of Americans drink bourbon occasionally
- Bourbon Old Fashioned is top cocktail 35% preference
- Bourbon industry supports 22,000 direct jobs in 2023
- Total economic impact $9 billion annually in Kentucky
- Bourbon tourism generated $2.5 billion in visitor spending 2023
- Bourbon exports hit $600 million in 2023
- European Union imports 40% of U.S. bourbon exports
- Australia bourbon imports grew 25% in 2023
- U.S. bourbon production reached 12.1 million barrels in 2022
- Kentucky produced 95% of the world's bourbon supply in 2023
- There are over 100 bourbon distilleries operating in Kentucky as of 2024
- Bourbon sales reached $5.1 billion in 2023
- Bourbon category grew 8% in retail sales volume 2023
- Premium bourbon sales over 50% of total category in 2023
In 2023, bourbon hit $5.1 billion in U.S. sales as home drinking and cocktails drove record demand.
Consumption
Consumption Interpretation
Economic
Economic Interpretation
Exports
Exports Interpretation
Production
Production Interpretation
Sales
Sales Interpretation
How We Rate Confidence
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
Lars Eriksen. (2026, February 13). Bourbon Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/bourbon-industry-statistics
Lars Eriksen. "Bourbon Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/bourbon-industry-statistics.
Lars Eriksen. 2026. "Bourbon Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/bourbon-industry-statistics.
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