/PRNewswire/ Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in September for the 11th consecutive month following a 28-month period of growth, say.
here is abc s john carl. reporter: it is a manufacturing boom in the heartland. production expanding, sales breaking records, and lots of new jobs. we re talking about bourbon, a 100% american-made product, almost as old as america itself. not since the end of prohibition has there been this much demand for it. marvelous turnaround, especially in this time, economic climate. reporter: we set out to find kentucky s secret. what can struggling american businesses learn from the bourbon boom. production shot up 18% just last year and continues to soar. there are now more barrels of bourbon in kentucky than there are people. this guy. that s my picture. reporter: we asked the great grandson of jim beam, who is buying it all? half of our business is overseas.