Our Responsibility

Leading With a Better Bourbon Culture

Making The World’s Best Bourbon Is a Privilege We Don’t Take Lightly.

In Kentucky, the only thing we take more seriously than our Bourbon is our commitment to doing what’s right. This means holding ourselves and the industry accountable for making responsible choices—for the good of our consumers, our planet and our communities.

Our responsibility initiatives underpin our strategy for creating a more inclusive and sustainable industry, in which moderation and safety are promoted with the same level of character that we bring to our spirits.

Social Responsibility

It’s the cornerstone of everything we do

Reduce Impaired Driving

Promote Mindful Consumption

Prevent Underage Access to Alcohol

It’s Your Choice

Reduce Impaired Driving

It goes without saying that impaired driving comes with devastating consequences. Through research, initiatives and education, we’re working to increase awareness and availability of sober rides throughout the Commonwealth. We believe that by empowering people to make responsible choices, we can decrease the number of DUI cases within our communities and make safe transportation the foundation of every Kentucky Bourbon experience.

Promote Mindful Consumption

True Kentucky Bourbon lovers will tell you: We always choose quality over quantity. We drink mindfully. We know our limits. And we never compromise on character.

To increase awareness on the importance of mindfulness and moderation, we’ve made responsible consumption a cornerstone of our approach. From the way we market Kentucky Bourbon experiences to the programs, policies and partnerships we support, we aim to educate and empower others to always make good decisions.
The only way to enjoy Bourbon like a true Kentuckian is to do so responsibly.

Prevent Underage Access to Alcohol

In Kentucky, the perfect age for Bourbon is not up for debate. Our distilleries are meticulous about not only checking IDs—but authenticating them using ID scanning software.

In addition to working with Kentucky higher education institutions on programs aimed at increasing student awareness on alcohol responsibility, we encourage parents to engage with their children early and often on the topic.

It’s Your Choice

Whether it’s a Bourbon or a delicious Shirley Temple in your glass, it’s just fine with us. We welcome anyone to sip (or not sip) with us-it’s always your choice!

That’s why our environment and culture welcomes everyone-where sober curious and alcohol-free communities can enjoy the history, culture and craft of Kentucky as much as those who choose to partake in our signature spirits. Cheers!

Sustainability

ensuring bourbon for tomorrow

Protecting Our Resources

Spent Grain Initiatives

BIER

Sustainable Spirits Summit

Protecting Our Resources

The very future of America’s spirit depends on the world around us. Without healthy soils, mineral rich water, Kentucky’s natural climate—and of course, those precious white oaks behind every barrel—there simply is no Kentucky Bourbon.

In 2021 alone, Kentucky distilleries filled 2.6 million barrels with Bourbon⁠—the highest number ever recorded. To help ensure the long-term sustainability of America’s white oak forests, the KDA proudly supports The White Oak Initiative in their efforts to actively create and champion vital conservation activities.

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Spent Grain Initiatives

Kentucky Bourbon is booming, but with the rise of production comes the rise of distilling byproducts—aka stillage or spent grain. To manage the increased volume, KDA members have made significant investments in spent grain opportunities, from piloting new technologies to funding academic research at leading universities. In addition, KDA, alongside Team Kentucky, is calling on innovators and entrepreneurs to present creative ideas, technologies and solutions for the environmentally friendly use of this byproduct.

BIER

The only way we can strengthen our sustainability efforts is to define clear benchmarks. To measure performance metrics and the industry effectiveness of environmental initiatives, KDA partnered with the Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER) to conduct a comprehensive distillery-specific performance analysis.

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Sustainable Spirits Summit

The Division of Compliance Assistance and the KDA launched the Sustainable Spirits Summit in 2011 with the goal of uniting Kentucky brewers, distilleries and wineries for a cleaner, greener future for our industry. Today, the annual event has grown to be the Kentucky’s Sustainable Spirits Initiative, which fosters collaboration, participation and resources to shape future sustainability endeavors.

Kentucky Spirits Collaborative

Securing a Sustainable Future

Bourbon 2100

Lifting Spirits Foundation

Research

Industry Conference

Bourbon 2100

How do we ensure our signature industry continues to thrive into the next century? The Kentucky Spirits Collaborative was created in 2020 as a working partnership between KDA member companies and the colleges and universities across the Commonwealth for the purpose of responsible advancement. The Collaborative works to secure the sustainable future of our Kentucky spirits industry through four areas of focus: Education, Research, Social Responsibility and Workforce Development.

Lifting Spirits Foundation

The KDA created the Lifting Spirits Foundation in 2020 to educate the public about the Commonwealth’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry through charitable, educational, literary and scientific research efforts.

The 501(c)(3) non-profit Foundation also supports workforce development, scholarships, projects, groundbreaking programs and research to responsibly advance our industry and support our communities.

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Research

Ongoing innovation is the key to the sustainable advancement of Kentucky’s signature industry. As part of the Kentucky Spirits Collaborative, KDA funds research through the state’s colleges and universities to find solutions, opportunities and efficiency improvements for a range of issues from spent grains upcycling to improving crop yields for Kentucky farmers.

Industry Conference

The James B. Beam Institute (JBBI) for Kentucky Spirits at the University of Kentucky offers multidisciplinary research of Kentucky’s spirits industry and its supply chain from farm to product.

With the KDA as a signature partner, the JBBI Industry Conference is poised to be the most prominent conference for the global spirits industry. Its program features a range of distinguished industry professionals and academic researchers, industry vendors, networking programs and educational exhibits.

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Partners & Resources

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STARS Server Training

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