Scotland's First Minister John Swinney is set to visit Kentucky during his trip to the United States, where he will meet with leaders in the bourbon industry. Swinney flew to Boston last week to watch Scotland's first World Cup match in 28 years, a 1-0 victory over Haiti.
Strengthening Ties with Bourbon Industry
The Scottish Government stated that the First Minister aims to "keep up the momentum" for Scotch whisky following US President Donald Trump's commitment to remove the 10% tariff on whisky. During his visit, Swinney 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.
President Trump announced in May that he would remove the 10% tariff on whisky, a significant win for Scotland's national drink. The American market, the largest for Scotch whisky, is worth nearly £1 billion. Whisky exports to the US fell by 4% in value and over 9% in volume compared to 2024, prompting the Scottish Government to prioritize the removal of trade barriers like tariffs.
Swinney's Comments on the Visit
John Swinney remarked: "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% 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."
The First Minister's trip underscores the importance of the US market for Scotch whisky and the ongoing efforts to strengthen trade relations between Scotland and the United States.
