Beshear to promote bourbon in Taiwan

Gov. Steve Beshear is scheduled to leave Sunday on trade mission to Taiwan, where he will promote the sale of bourbon whiskey.

The governor's office announced the seven-day trip on Friday that will also include stops in Japan, where Beshear will work to strengthen existing economic ties and talk with businesses considering new investments in Kentucky, which is already home to a massive Toyota manufacturing plant and some 150 others.

Beshear said in a statement that he looks forward to capitalizing on the "enormous potential that exists for Kentucky's bourbon industry in Taiwan."

Kentucky produces 95 percent of the world's bourbon and ships nearly 29 million gallons to 126 countries. The distilling industry and associated enterprises employ more than 9,000 Kentuckians, generating a $400 million annual payroll for the state.