Kentucky Makers: Bourbon, Bats and More Made in the Bluegrass State

The short answer: Kentucky makes far more than bourbon, but bourbon is the headline. The state's distilleries support a $10.6 billion industry and store a record 17.1 million barrels of aging spirits. Louisville still makes the country's most famous baseball bat, and small Kentucky companies have made soda, candy and flour for generations. Here's what's made in Kentucky, with the numbers behind it.

How big is Kentucky's bourbon industry?

Bigger than ever, according to a study by Dr. Mike Clark of the University of Kentucky's Center for Business and Economic Research. The Kentucky Distillers' Association (KDA), founded in 1880, released it on February 2, 2026.

Source: Kentucky Distillers' Association, February 2, 2026

View the data

Study	Economic impact ($ billions)
Early-2024 study	$9.0
February 2026 study	$10.6

Key figures from the KDA release:

• $10.6 billion in economic impact, up from $9 billion in the study released in early 2024.
• 23,935 jobs with $2 billion in salaries, wages and benefits, an increase of more than 800 jobs in two years.
• $372 million a year in state and local tax revenue, up $200 million over the last 10 years.
• $1.45 billion in planned investment over the next five years.
• 125 distilleries owned by 104 companies in 45 of Kentucky's 120 counties.
• A record 17.1 million barrels of spirits in storage, 16.1 million of them bourbon.
• 27.3 million bushels of corn used, 84% of it grown in Kentucky (up from 70% in the previous report).
• About $75 million in barrel taxes in 2025, up 163% in five years.

The KDA says Kentucky accounts for 27% of all U.S. spirits production and employment. Tennessee is second at 8.4%. The study also found spirits have the second-highest job multiplier of any Kentucky industry, behind only autos.

Why does bourbon matter to Kentucky farmers?

Corn is bourbon's main grain, and Kentucky distillers are buying more of it at home. The KDA says the industry buys 27.3 million bushels of corn a year, and its members say 84% comes from Kentucky farmers, up from 70% in the previous report. The study credits distilling with the state's second-highest job multiplier, supporting farm families, cooperages and truckers as well as distillery workers.

The industry also faces pressure. The KDA's release points to a volatile global trade environment, shifting consumer tastes, slower alcohol sales, lower exports and rising barrel taxes. The industry paid $75 million in taxes on aging barrels in 2025, up 163% in five years.

Bourbon flavors show up in other Kentucky products too. Our directory includes Woodford Reserve bourbon caramels and Buffalo Trace bourbon chocolates from Frankfort.

Are Louisville Slugger bats still made in Kentucky?

Yes. According to the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory:

• 1856: J. Fred Hillerich opened a woodworking shop in Louisville.
• 1884: By company legend, the shop turned its first professional bat, for Louisville player Pete Browning.
• 1894: The Louisville Slugger name was trademarked. In 1905, Honus Wagner signed on to endorse it.
• 1916: The company became Hillerich & Bradsby.
• World War II: The company made stocks for M-1 carbines.
• 1970–1995: Bats were made at a plant across the river in southern Indiana.
• 1996: The factory and museum moved to 800 W. Main St. in downtown Louisville, which has since drawn more than 4 million visitors.
• 2015: Wilson Sporting Goods bought the brand. Hillerich & Bradsby still makes the bats in Louisville.

What else is made in Kentucky?

Our Kentucky page lists verified products from across the state. A few with long local histories:

• Ale-8-One has been bottled in Winchester since 1926. It's a ginger-citrus soda that many Kentuckians call "Ale-8."
• Rebecca-Ruth has made candy in Frankfort since 1919 and is known for its bourbon balls.
• Weisenberger is a family mill in Midway, run by the same family since 1865. It sells baking and pizza crust mixes.
• Jif peanut butter comes mainly from a plant in Lexington.
• Louisville is home to Dan-O's seasoning and Louisville Jerky Co., and Owensboro makes RAGÚ pasta sauce.

Many of these make easy gifts. See our state-by-state holiday gift guide for more.

How many manufacturing jobs does Kentucky have?

About 249,200 in September 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

2026 is the average of January through September.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, KYMFG via FRED

View the data

Year	Manufacturing jobs (thousands)
1990	272.9
1991	266.9
1992	271.7
1993	278.9
1994	289.5
1995	298.7
1996	297.9
1997	302.5
1998	306.7
1999	309.3
2000	310.5
2001	291.9
2002	275.2
2003	265.5
2004	263.7
2005	262.2
2006	260.8
2007	255.9
2008	245.3
2009	213.1
2010	209.1
2011	212.8
2012	223.4
2013	229.0
2014	235.1
2015	241.4
2016	248.4
2017	250.5
2018	251.7
2019	252.3
2020	235.5
2021	243.1
2022	252.0
2023	256.6
2024	257.7
2025	252.5
2026	249.2

Kentucky's factory employment follows the national story, which we cover in the history of U.S. manufacturing jobs:

• 1990s growth: Jobs rose from an average of about 272,900 in 1990 to 310,500 in 2000. The monthly peak was 312,400 in May 2000.
• 2000s decline: Employment fell through the decade. It dropped sharply in the 2008–09 recession to a low of 203,700 in February 2010.
• Recovery: Jobs climbed back to about 252,300 in 2019, dipped in 2020, and reached 257,700 in 2024.
• 2025–26: The average slipped to 252,500 in 2025 and about 249,200 so far in 2026.

For how Kentucky compares with other states, see our ranking of states with the most manufacturing jobs.

How can you buy Kentucky-made?

• Visit. Distillery tours, the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory and small-town makers make Kentucky one of the best states for seeing products made.
• Shop the state page. Every product on our Kentucky page names its maker and town.
• Check the label on bourbon-themed goods. A bourbon flavor or a Kentucky brand name doesn't guarantee where something was made. Look for a named Kentucky town, and see our guide on how to verify Made in USA products.