Eastern Light is illuminating a new era of Kentucky Bourbon.
Eastern Light Distilling is a locally owned and operated distillery taking shape in the foothills of Eastern Kentucky. From our home in Morehead (Rowan County), we’re helping shape the next chapter of Kentucky Bourbon—through transparency, purity, and care.
Founded by industry veterans, our team set out to build something the spirits world needed but hadn’t yet seen: a purpose-built campus that blends Bourbon tradition with entrepreneurial flexibility. This is a distillery designed not just for production—but for partnership.
More than just another distillery, Eastern Light offers what most craft makers have been missing: full-service capabilities, a customizable brand experience, and a true distillery homeplace to call their own.
Eastern Light Distilling: Where Bourbon begins – with transparency, purity, and care.
Eastern Light is illuminating a new era of Kentucky bourbon.
We are illuminating a new era of Kentucky Bourbon. Eastern Light is a locally owned and operated distillery being developed in the foothills of Eastern Kentucky. From our home in Morehead (Rowan County), we will help bring a new era of innovation to the state’s signature Bourbon industry.
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.
More than another distillery producing a single branded spirit, Eastern Light will provide our fellow craft makers something not currently available in the Bourbon industry, a tailored brand experience and their own unique distillery homeplace.
A new day is dawning for Kentucky Bourbon. Look East.
Our Story
Our passion for whiskey pushes us to reimagine what’s possible for craft distillers. At Eastern Light, we’re not just building a distillery—we’re building a platform for independent brands to grow with intention, transparency, and care.
Designed to support both craft makers and non-distilling producers, Eastern Light offers something the industry has long lacked: a customizable, full-service distilling home that puts creators in control of their ingredients, process, and path to market. From grain to glass, we help bring your vision to life.
The name Eastern Light reflects innovation, direction, and possibility. Like the rising sun, we’re illuminating new opportunities for craft clients to claim their place in the world of whiskey. This is more than distilling; it’s your brand, your story, and your future. And we’re here to help you build it.
Our Story
Our passion for whiskey has prompted us to challenge ourselves and the industry in trying new approaches, creating something different, and always making it better. We are not only charting new territory, but also encouraging others to see the process transparently, and to take part.
Eastern Light was born to support craft distilling like never before, making Kentucky’s Bourbon heritage accessible to more makers. We are inviting our fellow distillers, makers and collaborators to craft their innovative spirit and expand the legacy of what’s possible in the world of whiskey and Bourbon.
The name Eastern Light suggests newness, innovation, directionality, and hope – all of which are reflected in our mission. We will offer our fellow craft makers something new in the Bourbon industry, a tailored brand experience and their own distillery homeplace. We want to help you tell your story.
Founding Partners
Eastern Light Distilling is the realization of a shared vision from 2023 Master Distiller of the Year Caleb Kilburn and seasoned industry executive Cordell Lawrence. Together, they’ve created a purpose-built model designed for today’s spirits landscape, supporting both emerging craft distillers and established brands with the transparency, flexibility, and expertise needed to grow from the ground up.
Caleb Kilburn
Master Distiller
A native of Eastern Kentucky’s Bath County, Caleb Kilburn has earned national acclaim for his craftsmanship and leadership in whiskey production. While at Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company, he helped elevate one of the industry’s most respected brands—culminating in his recognition as the 2023 Master Distiller of the Year.
Now, Caleb is bringing that expertise home. As Master Distiller at Eastern Light, he’s leading innovation from Rowan County, where he graduated from Morehead State University, and helping shape the next chapter of Kentucky Bourbon from the ground up.
Cordell Lawrence
Chief Executive Officer
Cordell Lawrence’s Kentucky roots run deep; his family has called the Commonwealth home since the 1700s. Throughout his career, he has led brand strategy, marketing, and commercial efforts for some of the world’s most iconic whiskey labels, including Maker’s Mark, Knob Creek, and Jack Daniel’s.
Most recently, he served as a senior executive at Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company in Louisville and now chairs the board of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. His expertise in brand building, route-to-market execution, and distribution strategy makes him the ideal counterpart to Caleb Kilburn’s production leadership. Cordell is a graduate of Transylvania University in Lexington.