Diageo is hitting the brakes on its Lebanon, Kentucky distillery—the powerhouse behind Bulleit whiskey—after crushing production targets ahead of schedule. The pause, lasting until June 2025, isn’t a shutdown but a bold move to refine one of the greenest giants in whiskey-making.
This 72,000-square-foot beast churns out 10 million proof gallons of whiskey a year, all on 100% renewable energy—making it one of North America’s biggest carbon-neutral distilleries. Since 2021, it’s slashed 117,000 metric tons of CO2 yearly—like yanking 25,000 cars off the road, per the EPA. That’s key to Diageo’s “Spirit of Progress” net-zero goal by 2030. Built with local support from Inter-County and East Kentucky Power Cooperative, it also sustains 30 jobs in Marion County.
While the stills cool off, some workers will shift to the Shelbyville site—where Bulleit production rolls on—while others stay in Lebanon for training and maintenance. Diageo routinely dials back production each year to sync with fiscal goals and keep efficiency tight. This pause doubles down on that playbook, ensuring the distillery stays sharp for the next fiscal stretch starting July 1. Bulleit fans won’t notice a hiccup, and local reports suggest Marion County’s economy will hold steady.
When the stills fire up again this summer, it won’t just be whiskey flowing—it’ll be proof that carbon-neutral production can dominate at scale. Diageo’s not just crafting Bulleit; they’re setting a benchmark for the industry’s future.
