The hot debate in the world of bourbon right now is whether or not there is a “bourbon shortage” threatening to cut off supply from thirsty, whiskey-loving consumers across the United States. Is it time to stockpile that favorite brand before it’s too late—if it’s not already too late—or is the bourbon shortage just another case of media-inspired frenzy?

Everyone has their own argument to make. On Whisky Advocate’s online blog, for instance, the publication recently presented dueling arguments between two whiskey writers, with one reducing much of the hoopla surrounding the bourbon shortage to “clickbait,” while the other countered that the bourbon shortage is real, and is already evident with the disappearance or unavailability of certain brands.

Why There is a Bourbon Shortage

The demand for bourbon is overwhelming. In the past decade, there has been a nearly 40 percent growth in sales of bourbon and Tennessee whiskey in the United States, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS).