Raising a Glass to Resilience: Tariffs, Vision, and the Spirit of Community

At Stone Ledge Distillery, we’ve always believed a glass of whiskey can tell a story—of place, of people, and of perseverance. As someone who’s poured heart, soul, and no shortage of sweat into building this brand from the ground up, I’ve learned that the road to craft excellence is rarely smooth. Lately, that road’s gotten a little bumpier.

Our flagship Stowloch Whiskey has started finding its way across the Atlantic, gaining fans in the UK who appreciate its Ozark Highlands roots. At the same time, we’ve been working to bring Beckford’s Rum—a brilliant, nuanced spirit out of the UK—to shelves here in Missouri. But just as these cross-continental relationships have started to flourish, tariffs have entered the scene.

The recent tariffs on UK imports, and the retaliatory ones abroad, are part of a broader push by President Trump to rebalance trade and strengthen American manufacturing. I get that. As a business owner and an adopted American, I understand the long game he’s playing—trying to secure better terms, encourage local industry, and build leverage. It’s a bold vision, and I respect the intent.

But here’s the honest reality: in the short term, it hurts. Tariffs raise the cost of importing something like Beckford’s, which means higher prices for our customers—or tighter margins for us. And for exports like Stowloch, UK distributors are now second-guessing what used to be a no-brainer partnership. These decisions made in Washington ripple all the way back to our barrelhouse in the Ozark Highlands.

And here’s what makes our industry especially vulnerable: we’re rooted in place. Unlike many industries, distilling—true, regional craft distilling—can’t be picked up and relocated. Scotch whisky must be made in Scotland. Tennessee whiskey can’t come from California. And Ozark Highlands Whiskey? It can only come from here, from this land, this climate, this limestone-filtered water, and these traditions. Move the operation and it’s no longer the same spirit.

That means when policy impacts us, we can’t simply shift operations or chase new markets—we have to weather the storm where we stand. That permanence is part of what makes our spirits so meaningful, but it also makes our livelihoods more exposed to geopolitical and economic pressures.

Still, we’re not throwing in the towel. If anything, we’re doubling down. Just recently, we joined other craft distilleries at the DISCUS conference in Washington, D.C., where we collectively showcased the strength of American spirits to importers from the UK, Australia, India, Canada, Mexico, and Singapore. That kind of collaboration matters. We’re hosting events that celebrate craftsmanship and cultural exchange—bringing people together to appreciate what makes each spirit, and each region, distinct. We’re building education into every bottle tag, every tasting—helping our community understand not just what’s in their glass, but why it matters. And we’re speaking up, making sure lawmakers know how these policies play out in real towns, with real consequences.

We can’t control global trade policies—but we can control how we respond. At Stone Ledge, we’ll keep pushing forward with grit, creativity, and an unshakable belief in what we’re building. Because in the end, this isn’t just about whiskey or rum. It’s about people—about connection, story, and legacy.

So here’s to weathering the storm—and coming out stronger, one glass at a time.