John Swinney is set to visit the state of Kentucky during his trip to the US for whisky talks. The First Minister flew to Boston last week to watch Scotland's first World Cup match for 28 years, where the team beat Haiti 1-0.
Strengthening Ties with Bourbon Industry
The SNP leader will now head to Kentucky where he will meet bourbon business leaders. The Scottish Government said Swinney aims to "keep up the momentum" for Scotch after Donald Trump's commitment to remove the 10 per cent tariff on whisky.
During his trip, he will co-host a lunch with American bourbon leaders, visit Kentucky Cooperage and Kentucky Bourbon Barrel, and tour a distillery with members of the Congressional Bourbon Caucus.
Tariff Removal a Major Win
The US President announced in May that he would remove the 10 per cent tariff on whisky. The move is a big win for Scotland's national drink, with the American market, its biggest, worth nearly £1 billion. Whisky exports to the US fell by four per cent in value and more than nine per cent in volume compared with 2024, which the Scottish Government said made "the removal of trade barriers such as tariffs a high priority."
First Minister John Swinney said: "Scotch whisky and Kentucky bourbon share a deep, long-standing connection – they're two of the world's great spirits and of high value to their respective economies. Every year, millions of used bourbon barrels make their way from Kentucky to Scotland, where they're used to age some of the world's finest Scotch whiskies. The relationship between these two great spirits industries is genuinely symbiotic – each one helps make the other better."
He added: "I have consistently made the case to exempt Scotch whisky from the 10 per cent tariff and was pleased by the president's announcement that he would remove the tariff for whisky following the state visit earlier this year. My visit to Kentucky aims to build on both that shared heritage and President Trump's commitment to remove the tariff for whisky, in a very important overseas market for Scotch."
Scotland ended a 36-year wait for a World Cup win last night in their first game on the grandest stage after a 28-year absence. The team beat Haiti 1-0 as John McGinn's deflected strike catapulted them to the top of Group C. Scotland supporters took to the streets of Glasgow early on Sunday morning as the nation celebrated the win. Fans left parties and pubs to songs and celebrations, including on Great Western Road. A piper whipped out his bagpipes and led supporters who gathered in a heart-warming rendition of Flower of Scotland to end the night on a high.
