UK announces 1st-of-its-kind Estate Whiskey Alliance

The University of Kentucky has announced a new global initiative called the Estate Whiskey Alliance (EWA).

Founding members 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 — established the EWA in 2023. 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,” said Landon Borders, EWA director. “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.”

The EWA will consist of a variety of members including whiskey producers, farmers, suppliers, academic institutions and other related organizations.

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,” said Seth DeBolt, the director of the James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits and senior advisor for EWA. “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.”  

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,” said Ian McClure, associate vice president for research, innovation and economic impact, executive director of UK Innovate and senior advisor for EWA. “We hope that any whiskey producer sees our focus on advancing sustainability goals and chooses to be part of this unique alliance.”

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.

The EWA will introduce its founding members and unveil its membership application process at a launch event in Lexington this summer. You can find updates and more information about the alliance on their website: estatewhiskey.org.