25 to watch in 2025: University of Kentucky’s head distiller off to a spirited start
READ MORE
25 to watch in 2025
The Lexington Herald-Leader is tracking 25 individuals we expect will be making news in 2025.
Expand All
Editor’s note: The Herald-Leader is profiling 25 individuals we predict will be making news in 2025.
Who: Glenna Joyce-Welsko, named the first head distiller at the University of Kentucky James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits, the largest teaching and research distillery in the world.
Background: In May, Joyce-Welsko was named the first-ever head distiller of UK’s on-campus distillery, the largest teaching and research distillery in the world. She had been working as the education coordinator at the Beam Institute since early 2021 and has a background in craft distilling and a degree in biochemistry.
Why 2025 will be memorable: As head distiller, Joyce-Welsko will oversee all aspects of spirit production as well as working with students who are learning the craft of distillation.
“I’m truly excited about the opportunities 2025 holds,” she said. “Here at the Institute, we’re hitting our stride ... I’m particularly thrilled to welcome new part-time and full-time operators to the James B. Beam Institute Distillery in Spring 2025. The Beam Institute serves as a beacon for top-tier talent, and it’s an honor to train and mentor each new cohort.”
What others are saying about Joyce-Welsko: “Glenna is an excellent communicator and educator; she connects with students and truly listens to them,” said Seth DeBolt, Beam Institute director. “Not only that, but she has worked with many across the industry, from the distilling team at Suntory Global Spirits to many craft producers. She is the perfect person to be the Beam Institute’s first head distiller and inspire the next generation.”
Why is 2025 such an important year for Joyce-Welsko: As head distiller, she is looking forward to increasing the number of batches coming out of the Institute, but also diving back into research, including on using hydrogen as a green fuel source for distilleries.
“One of our major initiatives for 2025 is the launch of the Kentucky Distilled Spirits Industrial Decarbonization and Sustainability Project. We will be operating and distilling with a modified boiler that co-fires natural gas with hydrogen, marking a significant step toward sustainability. We’re proud to collaborate with UK’s Center for Applied Energy Research, the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, the State Energy Program, and boiler manufacturer Sellers to help create a more sustainable future for the bourbon industry,” Joyce-Welsko said.
“I’m also excited about the expanding opportunities for student research projects. Our food-safe lab has hosted several initiatives where students have conducted fermentation and distillation research on a benchtop scale. Additionally, we’ve had multiple students explore research questions in our barrel rickhouse, furthering their understanding of the maturation process.”
