Illuminating a New Era of
Kentucky Bourbon
About Us
At Eastern Light Distilling, we don’t just distill whiskey; we care for the land it comes from and the people who trust us to bring it to life. Every barrel begins with intention, transparency, and the kind of craftsmanship that turns raw ingredients into lasting partnerships.
Eastern Light is a locally owned and operated distillery under development in the foothills of Eastern Kentucky. From our home in Morehead, we are bringing a new era of innovation to the signature Kentucky Bourbon.
Our passion and experience in the world of whiskey production inspired us to address growing challenges in the spirits industry by marrying Bourbon and entrepreneurism – two things that have helped our state flourish, and that are critical to its future.
The Distillery
A new day has arrived for Kentucky Bourbon—and Eastern Light Distilling is leading the way. Built in Morehead, Kentucky, our campus is where Kentucky’s next masterfully distilled spirits begin their journey—with access to local grain, pure water, nearby cooperage, and a transparent process crafted for brand growth.
Eastern Light is guided by two of the industry’s most seasoned voices: an internationally recognized master distiller and a veteran executive with decades of experience building world-renowned Bourbon brands.
Eastern Light’s 230-acre campus is taking shape as the future home of a 50,000 square foot state-of-the-art distillery building, a 54-inch column still, rickhouses, a full bottling facility, and a distinctive visitor experience. Designed for an annual capacity of more than 100,000 barrels, the facility supports a growing portfolio of craft clients with fully customizable and innovative production capabilities.
Look East
Eastern Light raises $23M to advance $143M Kentucky distillery
Sept. 22, 2026
Louisville Business First
When Eastern Light Distilling first announced plans for a 50,000-square-foot contract distillery in Eastern Kentucky in the summer of 2023, the bourbon market had been softening for a few months. Now, more than three years later, the market conditions have worsened by many accounts — especially in the contract distilling sector. Still, the distillery’s founders remain bullish on their operation — and have raised the needed capital to begin construction in earnest.
Report: The top raises for the second quarter in Kentucky
July 24, 2026
Louisville Business First
Two former employees of Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co., Cordell Lawrence and Caleb Kilburn,are building a 50,000-square-foot distillery on a 230-acre plot of land in Morehead, Kentucky, as part of a $143.7 million project. When up and running, the expectation is to produce between 350 and 400 barrels a day, leading to a projection of a little more than 100,000 barrels per year. In addition to starting its own brand, the distillery will also have several contract clients.