Big market emerges for Ky. bourbon

Posted: Tuesday, May 29, 2012 7:00 pm

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Just back from a trade mission to Taiwan, Gov. Steve Beshear said last week he sees a potentially “big market” for Kentucky-made bourbon whiskey.
Scotch now dominates in Taiwan, accounting for about 90 percent of the whiskey sold, leaving little room for the popular Kentucky brands like Maker’s Mark, Jim Beam and Old Grand-Dad.
“We’re going to work to change that,” Beshear told The Associated Press.
The weeklong trip also included stops in Japan where Beshear said he finalized a deal for a new manufacturing plant in central Kentucky..
Kentucky, which produces 95 percent of the world’s supply of bourbon, exported about 29 million gallons to 126 countries in 2010.

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