Proud to welcome @WhistlePigRye to the American Whiskey Association and Alex Roberts, CEO of WhistlePig, to our Board of Directors! WhistlePig has helped redefine American rye whiskey through innovation, craftsmanship, and a relentless commitment to pushing boundaries. Alex brings valuable leadership, industry experience, and a shared belief in the enormous opportunities ahead for American whiskey. As we continue working to open international markets, strengthen our industry, and introduce American whiskey to more consumers around the world, having companies like WhistlePig at the table makes us stronger. Our ambition is clear: Make American whiskey the world’s whiskey. Welcome aboard, Alex and the entire WhistlePig team. Looking forward to what we can accomplish together, at home and abroad! 🥃 Read the full announcement:
american-whiskey.org/news/wh…

Europe’s hospitality is part of what draws visitors from around the world, including Americans. During market visits across Europe this year, I’ve seen how distinctive each market is, and what they share: a commitment to hospitality, consumer choice and vibrant local businesses. European importers, distributors and retailers bring American whiskey to consumers, while bars and restaurants give people a chance to experience it. That creates value across the market. But nothing kills innovation and consumer-driven growth like excise taxes that raise costs and leave businesses and customers with fewer choices. The European Union welcomed 758 million visitors in 2024. Tourism accounts for about 10% of EU GDP and jobs and supports 4.6 million businesses, 99% of them small and medium-sized. That’s a powerful reason to think carefully about policies that add costs to the visitor experience. A recent Financial Times look at British pubs offers a useful caution: a small duty cut may make a headline, but it won’t offset a wider stack of business costs. The article reports that roughly one pub a day is closing in England and Wales. That doesn’t mean excise taxes alone caused those closures. It does show why governments should consider the cumulative impact of tax policy on hospitality. Read the article⁠. Europe’s hospitality is a strength. So are the importers, distributors, retailers and venues that connect consumers with American whiskey. We’ll continue sharing the facts about how policy affects these businesses along with the unintended consequences when bad policy gets it wrong. Tax policy should support innovation and consumer choice, not make them harder.

India is one of the world’s largest whiskey markets, with consumption reaching 268.8 million nine-liter cases in 2025. Rising incomes and growing demand for premium spirits create a significant opportunity for American whiskey. The U.K.-India trade deal shows how market-opening agreements can expand opportunity: Scotch import duties are falling from 150% to 75%, with a further reduction to 40% over 10 years. A forward-looking U.S.-India trade deal should give American whiskey a meaningful chance to compete, give Indian consumers more choice, and create new opportunities for American distillers, farmers, and industry partners in both countries. #AmericanWhiskey #India #TradeDeal @USTradeRep @USISPForum @SecRubio @USDA @USAmbIndia

We’re proud to welcome Brother's Bond Bourbon to the American Whiskey Association as a Global Growth Craft Member, and to welcome co-founder and CEO Vincent Hanna to AWA’s Board of Directors. Brother’s Bond brings an entrepreneurial perspective and a strong commitment to American whiskey’s future. We look forward to working with Vincent, Ian Somerhalder, Paul Wesley, and the entire team to support the people and businesses behind this industry and expand opportunities for American whiskey at home and around the world. Made in America. Made for the World. Read the full release here: american-whiskey.org/news/br…

A wonderful evening celebrating Italian American heritage and honoring the generations who came before us and the legacy they built. It was a pleasure to share the night with the Honorable Leon Panetta, Maria Bartiromo, Italian Senator Elena Murelli, and comedian Sebastian Maniscalco, and to celebrate alongside my AWA board members and colleagues at the Campari table. Christopher Macchio’s powerful performance of “God Bless America” made the evening even more memorable. My family roots run through Naples and Sicily, which makes this celebration especially meaningful. I’m proud of where we come from and grateful to the generations who risked so much to give those who followed a better opportunity. We honor their sacrifice through hard work, service to our communities and nation, and by helping the next generation build an even brighter future.

Bulk trade is a vital part of American whiskey’s global growth. In the first half of this year, 71% of U.S. bourbon exports shipped in bulk. That channel helps producers serve international bottlers and customers while supporting demand for American grain, barrels and distilling capacity. It also creates flexibility and efficiency while maintaining standards and respecting the heritage behind the whiskey. As I discussed with Richard Woodard of Global Drinks Intel, market access must include both the bottle and the barrel. Strong trade relationships depend on quality, reliability and trust, along with the ability to scale and operate efficiently. Thanks to Richard and @DrinksIntel for taking a closer look at the role bulk spirits play in today’s market. Bulk trade will be an important part of our bold global growth plan to make American whiskey the world’s whiskey. drinks-intel.com/spirits/why…

Bar Convent Berlin is a great place for American whiskey brands to meet the people who help it compete: importers, distributors, on- and off-trade partners, and the mixologists. Showing up, building relationships, and sharing what American whiskey has to offer is how we keep moving forward. #AmericanWhiskey #Germany #InternationalTrade

Poland is an important and promising market for American whiskey. It was a privilege to join Ambassador Rose, Senator Jim Banks, USDA colleagues and Polish partners at the Ambassador’s residence in Warsaw. I’m grateful for their leadership and partnership, and optimistic about the future of American whiskey in Poland. #AmericanWhiskey #Poland @USEmbassyWarsaw

American whiskey is heading to Warsaw and Berlin for a week of trade, diplomatic, media and market engagement focused on one goal: expanding opportunity for American whiskey. Poland has become one of the category’s most compelling European growth markets, while Germany remains one of our most important established markets. In both, the opportunity is significant, but so is the need for fair, predictable market access and a competitive environment for American producers. That means showing up, building relationships and engaging directly with importers, distributors, bartenders, hospitality leaders, policymakers and trade partners. At the American Whiskey Association, our mission is simple: make American whiskey the world’s whiskey. Warsaw first. Berlin and Bar Convent Berlin next. Made in America. Made for the world. Read the full release:  american-whiskey.org/news/am… #AmericanWhiskey #Whiskey #Bourbon #Trade #Exports #Poland #Germany #BarConventBerlin #MadeInAmericaMadeForTheWorld

The barrel is more than a vessel. It’s one of the forces that gives bourbon its character, and a place where tradition and innovation work side by side. Oak species, grain, seasoning, heat treatment, char and toast profiles, finishing, and rickhouse placement can all shape a whiskey’s color, aroma and flavor. Each choice gives distillers another way to create distinctive expressions while honoring bourbon’s heritage. Independent Stave Company has spent more than a century working with distillers to explore what oak can do. Its craftsmanship and research help keep barrel innovation moving forward. Heat. Cold. Oak. Time. That’s part of bourbon’s story, and the barrel keeps adding to it. #BourbonHeritageMonth #AmericanWhiskey #Bourbon #MadeInAmericaMadeForTheWorld

Today marks one year since I had the privilege of joining the American Whiskey Association as President and CEO. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to represent this remarkable industry at such a consequential time. The past year has reinforced just how much American whiskey means to not only to the people who produce it, but also to farmers, manufacturers, hospitality workers, communities and consumers across the country. I’m especially thankful to our members, partners, public-policy and industry professionals, and everyone who has lent a hand in moving American whiskey forward. Whatever progress we have made has been a collective effort, and I’m proud to have played a part in it. There is still plenty of work ahead. I’m looking forward to another year of leading, protecting and promoting American whiskey and working together to make American whiskey the world’s whiskey. Thank you to everyone who has been part of the advocacy evolution and effort. @USAWhiskeyAssn

Bourbon is American agriculture, distilled. Every bottle begins with grain grown by American farmers, and corn is at the heart of it. By law, bourbon must be made from a mash containing at least 51% corn. That defining standard connects one of America’s most celebrated products directly to our farms, rural communities and agricultural economy. Quality does not begin at the still or inside the barrel. It begins in the soil, with the seed, skill and stewardship of America’s farmers. It continues through harvest, grain selection and testing, fermentation, distillation, maturation in new charred American oak barrels, and years of patient craftsmanship. That is an extraordinary American value chain: farmers, grain producers, distillers, warehouse teams, cooperages, foresters, truck drivers, distributors, retailers, hospitality workers and tourism communities, all contributing to a product that can only be made in the United States. What we put into our whiskey matters. It starts with great corn and the people who grow it. This Bourbon Heritage Month, we proudly recognize bourbon for what it is: a quintessential American agricultural product and a powerful expression of American craftsmanship. Please enjoy responsibly. #BourbonHeritageMonth #AmericanAgriculture #AmericanFarmers #AmericanWhiskey #Bourbon #MadeInAmerica @USDA @forestservice @usda_nass @SecRollins

On September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked our country and took nearly 3,000 innocent lives. Today, we remember every person who was killed, honor the courage of the first responders and ordinary Americans who ran toward danger, and stand with the families who still carry that loss. Remembering also requires us to look forward. Preventing another terrorist attack demands good leaders, sound policy, effective procedures and constant awareness. The threats may change, but our responsibility to protect one another does not. As someone who had the privilege of serving alongside the men and women of @TSA, I remain deeply grateful for those who work every day, often unseen, to safeguard our transportation systems and our country. We remember the fallen. We honor those who serve. And we remain vigilant. Never forget. “9/11: As Events Unfold,” from the Transportation Security Administration: tsa.gov/videos/911-events-un… #September11 #NeverForget

Statement by Michael Bilello, President & CEO of the @USAWhiskeyAssn on U.S. and Canada trade tensions. American whiskey is ready to compete. For more than a year and a half, our producers have faced significant barriers in Canada, including the removal of U.S. products from provincial retail shelves while competing products remained available. We recognize the seriousness of the circumstances that have brought the United States and Canada to this point, and we remain hopeful that the current situation can lead to meaningful progress. Our objective is straightforward: Market access. Shelf access. Consumer access. American whiskey producers need the ability to participate in the Canadian market, return to provincial stores, restaurants and bars, and once again reach Canadian consumers. The best outcome for producers, businesses and consumers on both sides of the border is a return to normal commercial access and a stable, predictable trading environment. We hope this can be achieved without further escalation.  American whiskey is ready to compete. #AmericanWhiskey #Trade #Canada #MarketAccess #WhiskeyIndustry