Seth DeBolt
Seth DeBolt
Institute Director
Last Revised: May 24th, 2024
Professional Biography
Dr. DeBolt is eager to improve our knowledge of the key chemical components that determine quality in bourbon. As a graduate student specializing in wine, he divided his time between the University of Adelaide and the University of California, Davis. With both institutions based in prominent wine-growing regions, he was able to conduct groundbreaking research, discovering the tartaric acid pathway in wine grapes. Dr. DeBolt is the director of the James B Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits and the Distillation, Wine and Brewing Undergraduate Certificate Program at the University of Kentucky and is collaborating on a variety of projects across campus and within the spirits industry focusing on bourbon whiskey production, flavor and quality.