Eastern Light Distilling

Eastern Light Distilling is a locally owned and operated craft distillery under development in Morehead, Kentucky, situated in the foothills of Eastern Kentucky's Rowan County. Founded by 2023 Master Distiller of the Year Caleb Kilburn and veteran spirits industry executive Cordell Lawrence, the company is purpose-built to serve both emerging craft distillers and established non-distilling producers seeking a full-service, customizable distilling partner in the heart of Bourbon Country. The facility is designed around a 230-acre campus that will house a 50,000 square foot state-of-the-art distillery building, a 54-inch column still, multiple rickhouses, a complete bottling facility, and a distinctive visitor experience center. At full capacity, the operation is engineered to produce more than 100,000 barrels annually, positioning it as one of the more significant production-scale craft platforms in Kentucky. Eastern Light's model differentiates itself from traditional single-brand distilleries by functioning as a comprehensive contract distilling and brand development platform. The company offers craft makers and independent spirits brands access to fully customizable production capabilities, including ingredient sourcing from local grain suppliers, access to pure regional water sources, and proximity to cooperage resources — all designed to give clients control over their ingredients, production process, and route to market. The grain-to-glass approach allows client brands to maintain authenticity and transparency throughout the production process. The distillery's founding team brings deep institutional knowledge to the venture. Caleb Kilburn previously served at Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company, where he helped build one of the industry's most respected Bourbon brands before earning national recognition as Master Distiller of the Year in 2023. Co-founder Cordell Lawrence contributes decades of executive experience in building and scaling world-renowned Bourbon brands. Together, they have structured Eastern Light as a platform that addresses longstanding gaps in the craft spirits sector, particularly the lack of accessible, transparent, and flexible distilling infrastructure for independent makers. Eastern Light secured a $60 million facility investment and has participated in prominent industry events including Bourbon & Beyond, where it introduced signature cocktails to a national and international audience. The company's go-to-market strategy includes brand experience design, contract distilling services, and partnership-driven production — making it a notable entrant in Kentucky's competitive and growing Bourbon supply chain ecosystem.