Kentucky’s signature bourbon and spirits industry continues to grow with Eastern Light Distilling, an Eastern Kentucky-based distilling company investing more than $143.7 million in a new venue in Rowan County, expected to create at least 50 new jobs in the area in the coming years.
Eastern Light Distilling is introducing an innovative new concept to growing the state’s signature bourbon industry in Eastern Kentucky while supporting craft bourbon makers as a custom contract distiller. The locally owned venture is led by Kentucky bourbon industry veterans, including Chief Executive Officer Cordell Lawrence and Caleb Kilburn, an internationally recognized master distiller.
Kentucky Peerless Master Distiller Caleb Kilburn and Chief Operating Officer Cordell Lawrence are spearheading the Eastern Light Distilling project. “Eastern Light is the culmination of a lifelong dream to see our state’s signature bourbon industry in my home of Eastern Kentucky,” Kilburn said.
The project also represents a major success for the Kentucky Product Development Initiative, as the Rowan County site was approved for nearly $600,000 in state support earlier this year.
