Explicit Canadian emails target bourbon maker as Trump’s trade war intensifies
Standing next to half a dozen white oak barrels full of aging of the Kentucky Bourbon, on the floor of his little Louisville, Ky., Distilleria, Victor Yarbrow raises his laptop and starts reading his e -mails.
As a co-founder of Brough Brothers Distillery, he is visibly surprised by what has landed in his mailbox. And like an educated businessman, there is a bit of it that will not say aloud.
There are about 50 and -mail in total and most of them negative. Some of them are angry; Some are even explicit.
“You are heading to a complete recession in the United States with these hydroelectric rates and talks about the 51nd state bullshit,” says an e -mail. “I am only a farmer here in Canada, but I also know that this Canadian boycott and probably could last four years.”
Another reads: “The Kentucky problem is that people don’t realize that when you vote for republican [you] Get again F — D, “which seems to be a sort of game on the slogan of the President of the United States Donald Trump to make America great again.
The e-mails started shortly after Yarborough made appearances on Canadian and American stores, Speaking of how rates have negatively influenced its activityBrough Brothers Distillery, the only Bourbon distillery of black owned in Kentucky.
“In the end I think from what I have seen – It is not really about rates, it is more than the sovereignty of Canada, I think it is what is really coming to these and -mail,” said Yarbrough.
Call the shocking and painful content, especially with years of affectionate memories of holidays in Toronto before becoming a father.
“I love Canada,” he said.
After Trump has imposed rates on some Canadian goods, Canada reacted with a tariff package in its own right and some provinces decided to pull American alcohol, including the Kentucky Bourbon, outside the shop shelves.
For Victor Yarborough of the Brough Brothers Distillery in Louisville, the commercial war between Canada and the United States is influencing the profits of the Kentucky Bourbon Maker. But he is also making his way in his mailbox in shocking ways.
This happened because Yarbrough was about to negotiate an agreement with the New Brunswick to expand his sales in Canada. The goal was to export about 10,000 bottles of Bourbon in the province this year. Yarborough says that the Province has suspended those negotiations due to the current commercial war.
“These are really strong -lines that we receive and, unfortunately … the negative implication for us is that, hey, we are the bad here,” said Yarbrough to CBC News during an interview in his distillery.
“We are blocked in the middle,” he said. “I think the rates are not good for anyone.”
Acid Canada on American whiskey
The alcoholic industry of Kentucky was facing some problems before the official start of the commercial war. In January, Brown-Thorman-Che produces well-known Bourbon brands such as Jack Daniel’s, Woodford Reserve and Old Forester-announced that he would cut his 12 %global workforce, which includes about 200 jobs in one of his Louisville plants that builds barrels.
The governor of Kentucky Andy Beshear claims to worry that there may be widespread working losses if there is no resolution of the tariff controversy.
“It is still early, but what we are seeing are some layoffs in the bourbon sector, [in] Both bottling plants and one of our greatest distillers, “he said during an interview with CBC News at the State House in the capital of Frankfort.
He added that “they also see a real concern among our farmers on the quantity of food that we export all over the world”.
Kentucky exported well goods for over $ 47 billion last year, with Canada its largest customer representing over $ 9 billion of such sales.
While Bourbon is not the best export – in reality they are products relating to the aerospace industry – the spirit is what the state is best known for. And it has become a symbolic target for the Canadian retaliation.
“The governor of Kentucky said he did not touch our bourbon. I said:” Governor is the first thing we are looking for, “said an angry prime minister Doug Ford when Announcing his response to the US rates.
“We are the largest bourbon buyer in the world, for Kentucky’s Bourbon producers, they ended up, they left,” Ford told journalists in early March.
Beshear, a Democrat who is vocally against the rates, says that this is not the case that he remembers his conversation with Ford.
“There was no macho back and forth, we were both talking about how the rates will hurt both our countries,” he said.
Ontario is pulling 3,600 US products from the LCBO shelves in response to Trump rates, with Prime Minister Doug Ford encouraged people to buy Canadian brands.
Canada’s response is understandable, says Beshear, but suggests that the Kentucky targeting is unfair because so many of its political leaders are supporting Trump’s tariff policy.
“I understand that you defend yourself, this is what we all do, but be strategic,” he said.
“Having rates that respond only to all American products, you know, does not differ again among those who speak and out of injured rates … and those who blindly support the president.”
“You must be patient”: Kentucky Trump Supporter
Despite the consequences for the Bourbon industry, it remains a lot of support for Trump in Kentucky. He won the state in all three of his presidential competitions, gaining almost 65 % of the votes in 2024, compared to 62 % both in 2020 and in 2016.
“I love everything he is doing,” said Ted Jackson, a businessman based in Louisville who sells cigars online and has a website that sells Trump goods.
“I trust President Trump and the team. This idea about rates is not something that has just dreamed of during the night, there have been many discussions, a lot of planning, a lot of justification for this.”
Trump has long claimed that his commercial agenda will help to reconstruct American production and that companies will build new factories in the United States in order to avoid paying rates. Although he recognized that there could be some “interruptions” for the cost of living.
“In the end everything will work. There may be bruises along the way, but he is trying to do something … he is trying to fix something,” said Jackson.
“The Bourbon industry will not go away in Kentucky and people must be patient and over time everything will correct themselves.”
Trump voters in the rural parts of the state shared similar attitudes. They are tired of rates, but they believe to the president when he says in the long term, this will help the economy.
“I think he’s excellent,” said Steve Stinnett, a pensioner who spoke with CBC News in a Park River in the County of Meade.
Stinnett says he stands for his vote, even if he could be captured in the commercial war.
“The rates that will probably influence me will be on any future car shopping. I hate the fact that it will cause that type of situation to American citizens and Canadian citizens.”
Her Troutman, a retired bartender, claims to be also willing to give Trump the benefit of doubt.
“If he thinks he can help, more power for him. But he must realize that he could hurt part of the American people and other countries,” said Troutman.
He says that he does not even regret his vote for Trump, even if he is less enthusiastic than some of his supporting companions of Trump.
“When the elections arrived, he had the best of the two evils,” he said.
“He said he would help the American people. We hope he will do it.”
