Our Mission

The Estate Whiskey Alliance™ is a coalition of distilleries, whiskey-affiliated businesses, and universities that share the goal of making high-quality whiskey while supporting the land and research that pours into the fabrication process.

Established in 2023 by UK Innovate at the University of Kentucky and founding members, the Estate Whiskey Alliance™(EWA) is a global consortium that aims to discover, advance, and promote the benefits of local sourcing and sustainable production of whiskey. This alliance will support research in agriculture, manufacturing and sustainability to shape the future of Estate Whiskey™ production and will provide a first of its kind licensing program, authenticating Estate Whiskey with a consumer recognizable mark. While the Estate Whiskey Alliance is open to all industry members, only whiskey producers meeting rigorous quality and sustainability standards can earn the prestigious Estate Whiskey certification.

Provide transparency to consumers on ingredient sourcing and whiskey production methods.

Enhance consumer trust by establishing a consistent definition of estate whiskey.

Support research in agriculture, manufacturing and sustainability to shape the future of estate whiskey production.

Authentic consumer recognizable mark that certifies the whiskey meets the highest standards to qualify as an estate whiskey