Forman, which is expected to generate up to $80 million in annual savings, comes as inflation and changing consumer tastes cut into spirits sales.

Brown-Forman, the parent company behind major American whiskey brands Jack Daniel's and Woodford Reserve, announced that it was cutting 12 percent of its global workforce and selling its Louisville cooperage.

Jack Daniel’s maker Brown-Forman is slashing 12% of its workforce as more consumers cut back on their alcohol consumption, the company said Tuesday. Louisville, Ky.-based Brown-Forman – a 155 year-old company which also makes Woodford Reserve, Old Forester and other spirits – is closing its barrel making operation by April 25.

The Brown-Forman Cooperage, 420 MacLean Ave. in Louisville, Ky., Tuesday, May 28 2013. The cooperage which made more than 600,000 barrels per year with nearly 85% of them being made for Jack Daniels, is being closed permanently and more than 200 laid off.

Spirits giant Brown-Forman Corp. says it’s reducing its global workforce by about 12% and closing its barrel-making plant in Louisville ... Kentucky and Tennessee, where Jack Daniel's is crafted ...

The workforce layoffs are expected to affect around 650 employees, or 12% of Brown-Forman’s 5,400 employees worldwide. The company also plans to close its Louisville-based barrel-making operation, Brown‑Forman Cooperage, by April 25. That will cut jobs for about 210 hourly and salaried employees and is part of the overall layoffs.

By McKenna Horsley Kentucky Lantern The Brown-Forman Corp., a giant spirts company based in Kentucky, announced Tuesday it plans to reduce its global workforce by 12% as part of a “a series of strategic initiatives to position the company for continued growth in the dynamic global spirits market.

The company says restructuring efforts include cooperage closure, workforce reduction and a shift to external barrel sourcing

Spirits giant Brown-Forman Corp. said Tuesday it's reducing its global workforce by about 12% and closing its hometown barrel-making plant in Louisville ... Kentucky and Tennessee, where Jack ...

Related: Popular vodka brand sold after spirits sales slump However, everything that goes up has to come down at some point, and the spirits and wine markets are experiencing this harsh fall firsthand.

The Louisville-based company's facility, where barrel makers — also known as coopers — produce the white oak barrels that hold Brown-Forman's whiskey brands: Jack Daniel's, Old Forester, Woodford Reserve and Coopers' Craft.

Spirits giant Brown-Forman Corp. said Tuesday it's reducing its global workforce by about 12% and closing its hometown barrel-making plant in Louisville. The cost-cutting moves come as American w