669. Why Is 95 Percent of the World’s Bourbon Made in Kentucky?

Apr 3, 2026 · 46 min · YouTube

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EP · Freakonomics Radio · 669. Why Is 95 Percent of the World’s Bourbon Made in Kentucky?46:20

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0:03Most products can be sold pretty much as soon as they're made.

0:07And that's important if you're in the business of making things because you can start earning back your investment right away.

0:14But some products require a further investment of time after they've been manufactured.

0:21It could be years worth of time.

0:23Certain cheeses come to mind.

0:26Wine occasionally, but especially spirits.

0:30The most famous example is Scotch whiskey.

0:32The older the barrel, the dearer the bottle.

0:36And the most famous American example is bourbon.

0:40I don't happen to drink much bourbon, but the bourbon industry started to sound interesting when we did a three-part series on the horse industry.

0:48That series is called The Horse is Us, if you'd like to listen.

0:51One interesting feature of the thoroughbred horse market is how concentrated it is in one relatively small area, the bluegrass region surrounding Lexington, Kentucky.

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