The alliance will support research in agriculture, economics, manufacturing and sustainability to shape the future of Estate Whiskey production and will provide a licensing program, authenticating Estate Whiskey Certified™ products.
The University of Kentucky has formally announced a new global initiative called the Estate Whiskey Alliance (EWA). Established in 2023, the EWA is a consortium of members including whiskey producers, farmers, suppliers, academic institutions, and other related organizations. One of the EWA’s goals is to promote the benefits of local sourcing and sustainability in the production of whiskey. The EWA will unveil its membership application process at a launch event in Lexington, Kentucky in the summer of 2024.
The Founding Members of the EWA are the University of Kentucky (UK), the UK James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits, and UK Innovate (UK’s innovation, entrepreneurship and economic enterprise for University of Kentucky Research). It’s a global consortium that aims to discover, advance and promote the benefits of local sourcing and production sustainability.
We are excited about the EWA because it is the embodiment of partnerships, research, education, technology transfer and innovation economic development that not only benefits one of Kentucky’s signature industries, but also the global whiskey industry. We have the unique ability to leverage the bourbon, agricultural, business and sustainability expertise here in the Commonwealth and share it with a much broader audience — our current and future alliance members.
Landon Borders, EWA director
American whiskey includes bourbon, Tennessee whiskey, rye whiskey and other whiskeys including corn, wheat, malt and rye malt whiskeys. According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, American whiskey sales in 2023 generated nearly $5.3 billion in revenue for distillers.
In Kentucky, spirits support more than 35,000 jobs in the Commonwealth and generate nearly $14 billion for the state’s economy, according to the Distilled Spirits Council.
Kentucky produces 95% of the world’s bourbon. Our goal with the Beam Institute is to train the next generation of distillers to allow our signature industry to flourish. As a land-grant institution, UK is always looking for ways to serve Kentucky — from the wheat, rye, barley and corn producers to the distillers and engineers. The Estate Whiskey Alliance™ is an authentic means to communicate the ‘Estate’ nature of a product to the consumer and supports the global whiskey/whisky industry as a whole.
Seth DeBolt, Director of the James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits & senior advisor for EWA
The alliance will support research in agriculture, economics, manufacturing and sustainability to shape the future of Estate Whiskey production and will provide a first-of-its-kind licensing program, authenticating Estate Whiskey Certified™ products with a consumer recognizable mark.
This group understands that innovation is the key to unlock untold potential in this industry. We hope that any whiskey producer sees our focus on advancing sustainability goals and chooses to be part of this unique alliance.
Ian McClure, Executive Director of UK Innovate & senior advisor for EWA
While the EWA is open to all business organizations and academic institutions, only the specific whiskey products proven to be made under rigorous quality and sustainability conditions can display the prestigious Estate Whiskey Certified™ logo on their qualifying bottles.
You can find updates and more information about the alliance on their website: EstateWhiskey.org.
About the University of Kentucky:
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It’s all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.
Image Credit: Estate Whiskey Alliance
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