In response to the increasing popularity of bourbon — and the subsequent growing scarcity of it as a result — Kentucky distilleries reportedly filled more barrels with the brown stuff in 2013 than any other year since 1970.

Trade group the Kentucky Distillers' Association says bourbon producers put as many as 1.2 million barrels of bourbon down in their stockhouses last year, according to Associated Press. What’s more inventories currently exceed a 5 million barrel benchmark set in in 1977.

But that doesn’t mean we’re any closer to heading off looming shortages.

At the same time distilleries are boosting their outputs, drinkers are putting the stuff away like never before. And since the demand shows no sign of letting up — especially not with the rapid increase of both disposable incomes and demand in China — bourbon producers are setting much those record breaking inventories aside for future markets.

Still, there’s no need to have a freakout over it; though in high demand, an all out depletion of the stocks is highly unlikely. As is the chance of prices falling in our lifetimes.