A new economic development has begun construction in Rowan County. Officials said the distillery will bring both pristine bourbon and new economic opportunities to the eastern Kentucky region.
Eastern Light Distilling commemorated the start of its construction with a groundbreaking in early July on its 230-acre property, located near Sharkey in Rowan County.
Rocky Adkins, senior advisor to the Governor, said a distillery for the region is long overdue thanks to bourbon’s deeply rooted history in eastern Kentucky.
“The great bourbon barrels that are used to age the bourbon. Much of that white oak comes from eastern Kentucky, and guess what, much of that white oak ends up right here in Rowan County and in Morehead,” said Adkins. “To look at the stains that are made here now. To look at the extra barrels that are being built just down the road from where we are now.”
Eastern Light Distilling will function as Rowan County’s first established bourbon distillery, projected to create more than 50 full-time jobs and produce about 97,000 barrels of bourbon annually. Harry Clark, Rowan County Judge Executive, said Eastern Light’s impact will reach far beyond Rowan County.
“We all are beneficial of anything that comes in here. And to say that this is going to be a tremendous job creator, economic boost...through tourism, through good work, good jobs? That benefits all of us,” said Clark.
Eastern Light is expected to begin bourbon production in late 2025 at their 50,000-square-foot facility, which will feature nine rickhouses capable of holding 33,000 barrels each.
More information on the distillery is available at easternlight.com.