U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell said in a statement Thursday that President Trump's decision to remove tariffs on bourbon and whiskey is "timely and welcome news" ahead of the 152nd Kentucky Derby this weekend.

The Republican senator's statement came after Trump announced the tariff elimination following a White House visit from King Charles III and Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom. "In honor of the King and Queen," Trump announced he would remove tariffs and restrictions on whiskey having to do with Scotland's ability to work with Kentucky on bourbon production.

McConnell emphasized the economic significance of the move for the Commonwealth. "95% of the world's bourbon is produced in the Commonwealth and the industry employs more than 23,000 hardworking Kentuckians," he said in the statement. "This move will give businesses the certainty they need to increase investment in Kentucky's economy."

The tariff removal addresses a critical trade relationship between Kentucky and Scotland, where distillers are major purchasers of used bourbon barrels from American producers. Under U.S. law, bourbon must be aged in new, charred oak barrels; once used, these barrels are typically exported to Scotland where they are reused to age Scotch whisky.

The Kentucky bourbon industry has faced significant headwinds from trade disputes. Retaliatory tariffs placed on American spirits in response to Trump administration trade policies in 2025 led to decreases in exports to markets that traditionally buy Kentucky bourbon. McConnell noted that after "more than a year of looming high prices and increased costs, Kentucky's bourbon industry and the consumers that support it can be hopeful for the future."