Located in Morehead, Kentucky, the new distillery is expected to open in late 2025.

The Kentucky Bourbon scene grows ever larger with the addition of Eastern Light Distilling, which began construction of its new distillery on 2 July with a groundbreaking ceremony.

Eastern Light comes from master distiller Caleb Kilburn and and CEO Cordell Lawrence, who previously worked together at Kentucky Peerless Distilling.

“We are thrilled to celebrate this important moment as we bring Eastern Light Distilling to life,” Kilburn said. “Being from Eastern Kentucky, I’m grateful for the opportunity to grow the industry I’m so passionate about in the region I call home.”

Eastern Light will contract distill, working with craft producers from product inception to branding.

The 230-acre campus will feature a 50,000-square-foot distillery, nine rickhouses with an average capacity of 33,000 barrels each, a full bottling facility, and a visitor experience. Once up and running, the distillery will employ more than 50 full-time staff and produce upwards of 97,000 barrels per year.

“Eastern Light will fill a tremendous need in the Bourbon industry, operating with a fully customisable solutions-based model that will help craft distillers and Bourbon brands to not only reach their goals and bring their products to market, but to flourish,” Lawrence said.

“We believe in removing barriers to entry in the spirits space so that we can share our passion with like-minded creators while prioritising quality, inspiring creativity, and investing in the state’s signature Bourbon industry and the health of the region.”

Eastern Light joins a crop of new distillery projects that are either focused on contract distilling or plan on making it a core business component. The past decade saw a rise in non-distillery producers as entrepreneurs and upstart craft brands sought a piece of the Bourbon market without the high costs of building a distillery or the long wait times for whiskey to mature.

In October 2023, the team behind Bardstown Bourbon Company pledged more than US$350 million over the next 10 years to build a new distillery for contract whiskey production in the US. Located in Kentucky, Whiskey House will be the ‘first’ distillery designed from scratch to focus entirely on large-scale, flexible, contract whiskey production.

In January 2024, Garrard County began production as the largest independently owned distillery in Kentucky, with contract distilling as a part of its model.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear explained Tuesday that Democratic state governors requested a meeting with President Biden because they “want to make sure he’s doing OK.”

Beshear, whose name has been floated as a possible replacement for the 81-year-old commander in chief on the Democratic presidential ticket, said during a CNN interview that Biden should be more open “about his health” in light of last week’s disastrous debate performance which the governor believes “hurt the campaign.” 

“I think we’ve all got to be upfront and honest that what we saw in the debate – it was rough,” Beshear said during his appearance on “The Situation Room.”  

“It [was] a rough night, and regardless of polls that you see, it’s going to hurt the campaign,”  he added. 

Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz organized a Monday night call of his fellow Democratic state leaders – none of whom had heard directly from Biden – to discuss the concerns about the president’s debate against former President Donald Trump.  

The White House has arranged a meeting between the president and Democratic governors slated for Wednesday. 

“I think the governors just want a direct and candid conversation with the president,” Beshear said of the upcoming meeting. “We want to make sure he’s doing okay.” 

“We all know him. He has formed a personal relationship with us, and he says he is [OK], and we take him at his word, but it’s always good to see somebody in person.” 

Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) became the first congressional Democrat to call on Biden to drop out of the race Tuesday after a debate performance in which the octogenarian president repeatedly froze up on stage and lost his train of thought. 

Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), also on Tuesday, expressed that he had no confidence in Biden’s ability to beat Trump in November.

Beshear, 46, stopped short of calling on Biden to end his re-election effort. 

“Joe Biden is our nominee, and ultimately that decision on continuing or not will fall to him and his family,” he said.

The governor, however, urged Biden to open up about his health.  

“I don’t think that there’s anything wrong with asking the president to talk to the American people a little bit more about his health or that debate performance,” Beshear said.

“It’s like seeing somebody that you haven’t seen in a while and they seem a little off, and you asking how they’re doing, and then listening to their answer, is both showing concern for them but also just trying to make sure that things are OK,” he argued.

“If people have those questions,” Beshear said, referring to the president’s health, “it’d be great for him to answer them directly.”

The front steps of the Old State Capitol, on West Broadway in downtown Frankfort, was the site of an event to help commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Kentucky State Parks System.

The Old State Capitol, which now serves as a museum, played a significant role as a backdrop in establishing the Kentucky State Parks system. In 1924, State Geological Surveyor Dr. Willard Rouse Jillson, who led the first state parks commission, delivered a historic speech there to members of the General Assembly in which he underscored the importance of acquiring and preserving natural parks for the enjoyment of future generations.

In 1926, Pine Mountain, Natural Bridge, Fort Harrod and the now-closed Blue and Gray were recognized in the legislative record as the first four Kentucky State Parks.

Gov. Andy Beshear told the gathering there are numerous state parks sites that attract visitors from across Kentucky and beyond.

“Natural Bridge, where people come to see the famous rock formation and hike the Red River Gorge. Or Pime Mountain, where there is nothing more beautiful than hiking Chain Rock in the fall. Or Cumberland Falls, which houses our Niagara of the South, where you can see the luminous moonbow, one of the few places in the world where people can witness this miraculous and wonderful sight.”

Kentucky is now home to 44 state parks, including 17 resort parks and 13 golf courses, with breathtaking views of mountain ranges, waterfalls, wildlife, scenic hiking trails, caves to explore, fishing, boating, kayaking, nationally recognized golf courses, camping, lodges, historic sites, museums and more offering opportunities for exploration, entertainment and education to Kentuckians and visitors from across the world.

Along with their natural, historic and economic significance, Gov. Beshear has used Kentucky State Parks and their dedicated teams to respond to tornadoes, flooding and other natural disasters by opening their doors to Kentuckians during difficult times.

“For a century, Kentucky State Parks have served visitors from within the Commonwealth and beyond, imprinting memories on generations of children who have grown up to bring their own families to visit,” said Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Lindy Casebier. “Parks are integral to tourism, while also supplying jobs and supporting nearby businesses such as restaurants, retail and recreational facilities.”

For more information about Kentucky State Parks, visit  parks.ky.gov.