Cordell Lawrence
Chief Executive Officer
Cordell Lawrence, 42, has worked in the bourbon industry for over two decades, supporting and amplifying such iconic brands as Southern Comfort, Jack Daniel’s, Maker’s Mark, and most recently historic craft brand Kentucky Peerless Distilling, Co. He is a graduate of Transylvania University (2004) with a degree in Business Administration and has served in a range of marketing, communications, management, brand development, and leadership positions over the course of his career, making him the ultimate expert to guide Eastern Light’s contract clients.
Over his five years at Brown-Forman from 2011 to 2016, Lawrence was promoted twice to ultimately serve as the Director of Integrated Communications for Southern Comfort. He earned recognition as an expert in developing winning brand strategies as the Global Community Manager of Jack Daniel’s Family of Brands. Refining his leadership, marketing, brand building, and distribution skills over his tenure at Brown-Forman, Lawrence developed a strong intuition for the inner workings of what makes a brand successful and is excited to apply this knowledge to help Eastern Light Distilling and its craft makers succeed.
In his most recent post as an executive at Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co., Lawrence led the craft brand company to become one of the most admired craft distilleries in the bourbon industry. Touching all areas of the business, from marketing and sales, to operations, product innovation development, distributor relationships, media and government relations, and more, Lawrence propelled the start-up bourbon brand to national distribution and global acclaim. Eastern Light Distilling’s business plan and suite of services is designed to leverage his comprehensive expertise to support the success of its craft maker brands.
Additionally considered a leader in the bourbon industry as a whole, Lawrence was named Vice Chairman of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival Board in January of 2022 and became Chairman of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival Board in January of 2024. His expertise on international trade relations for distilled spirits has been sought by various media outlets.
Lawrence’s keen understanding of the industry led him to identify a need in the market for non-distiller producers and ultimately to the founding of Eastern Light Distilling. He is passionate about the bourbon industry’s craft makers and will use his skillset as a master in business, strategy, marketing, route-to-market, and distribution management to lead Eastern Light’s craft brands to success.
Cordell Lawrence
Chief Executive Officer
Cordell Lawrence, 42, has worked in the bourbon industry for over two decades, supporting and amplifying such iconic brands as Southern Comfort, Jack Daniel’s, Maker’s Mark, and most recently historic craft brand Kentucky Peerless Distilling, Co. He is a graduate of Transylvania University (2004) with a degree in Business Administration and has served in a range of marketing, communications, management, brand development, and leadership positions over the course of his career, making him the ultimate expert to guide Eastern Light’s contract clients.
Over his five years at Brown-Forman from 2011 to 2016, Lawrence was promoted twice to ultimately serve as the Director of Integrated Communications for Southern Comfort. He earned recognition as an expert in developing winning brand strategies as the Global Community Manager of Jack Daniel’s Family of Brands. Refining his leadership, marketing, brand building, and distribution skills over his tenure at Brown-Forman, Lawrence developed a strong intuition for the inner workings of what makes a brand successful and is excited to apply this knowledge to help Eastern Light Distilling and its craft makers succeed.
In his most recent post as an executive at Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co., Lawrence led the craft brand company to become one of the most admired craft distilleries in the bourbon industry. Touching all areas of the business, from marketing and sales, to operations, product innovation development, distributor relationships, media and government relations, and more, Lawrence propelled the start-up bourbon brand to national distribution and global acclaim. Eastern Light Distilling’s business plan and suite of services is designed to leverage his comprehensive expertise to support the success of its craft maker brands.
Additionally considered a leader in the bourbon industry as a whole, Lawrence was named Vice Chairman of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival Board in January of 2022 and became Chairman of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival Board in January of 2024. His expertise on international trade relations for distilled spirits has been sought by various media outlets.
Lawrence’s keen understanding of the industry led him to identify a need in the market for non-distiller producers and ultimately to the founding of Eastern Light Distilling. He is passionate about the bourbon industry’s craft makers and will use his skillset as a master in business, strategy, marketing, route-to-market, and distribution management to lead Eastern Light’s craft brands to success.