Early Times is a brand of Kentucky whiskey produced by the Sazerac Company, one of the two largest spirits companies in the United States, which purchased the brand in mid-2020. Before the brand purchase, it was distilled in Shively, Kentucky, by the Brown-Forman Corporation, another of the largest North American-owned companies in the spirits and wine business.
Early Times
A bottle of Early Times
Type
American whiskey (labelled as Bourbon in export markets, and as Kentucky Whisky within the U.S.)
While Early Times is marketed outside the U.S. as bourbon, the whiskey does not meet all the U.S. regulated criteria for bourbon[1] – and hence, is marketed within the U.S. as whiskey (rather than as bourbon whiskey). In 2010, Brown-Forman introduced Early Times 354 in the U.S., which meets the regulated criteria for straight whiskey.[2]
The Early Times Whisky brand production started at Early Times Station, Kentucky,[3] and was introduced in 1860.[4] The Kentucky water surrounding the "Station" was used for making the whiskey. The water naturally filtered through limestone springs. Early Times was not popular until 1920 when Congress passed the Volstead Act and Prohibition began. The brand prospered due to its maker having a license to continue production for medicinal purposes.[3]
The Brown–Forman Company acquired the Early Times brand in 1923,[3] and over the next 30 years made Early Times the best-selling whisky in the country.[3] It later became sold in over 40 countries.[3] It ranks as one of the top four selling Kentucky whiskeys in the world, and in 2005 it became the top selling Kentucky whisky in Japan.[3]
In mid-2020, the brand was sold to the Sazerac Company.[5][6][7]
Production and products
Before the sale to Sazerac, the brand was owned by Brown-Forman and was produced at the Brown-Forman Distillery in Shively, Kentucky. Most of the Early Times which is now sold in the U.S. cannot legally be labeled as a bourbon whiskey within the U.S., so it is labeled as "Kentucky Whisky". Some of the spirits in Early Times are aged in used barrels,[8] while bourbon must be aged in new barrels according to the legal requirements for bourbon sold within the U.S. It is bottled at 40% alcohol by volume.
In 1987, Brown–Forman contracted with Churchill Downs to market Early Times mint juleps as the "official drink" of the Kentucky Derby. Until 2015, Early Times Mint Juleps were sold during Derby Week each year.[citation needed] The highest-priced mint juleps at the event use bourbon from the Brown-Forman sister brand, Woodford Reserve, which is marketed as the "official bourbon" of the Kentucky Derby. Old Forester, a bourbon also made by Brown-Forman, later[when?] replaced Early Times as the standard Kentucky Derby whisky for the lower-priced mint juleps.
^"Early Times – One of America's Oldest (Bourbon) Whiskys Celebrates 160 Years". Distillery Trail. 2020-01-14. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
^"Sazerac Buys Early Times Brand from Brown-Forman". 15 June 2020.
^"Brown-Forman Completes Sale of Early Times and Canadian Mist to Sazerac | Brown Forman".
^"Brown-Forman sells Early Times and Canadian Mist to Sazerac". 15 June 2020.
^Waymack, Mark H.; Harris, James F. (1995). The Book of Classic American Whiskeys. p. 100. ISBN0812693051. OL 784496M.
External links
Early Times website
January 24, 2023
early, times, brand, kentucky, whiskey, produced, sazerac, company, largest, spirits, companies, united, states, which, purchased, brand, 2020, before, brand, purchase, distilled, shively, kentucky, brown, forman, corporation, another, largest, north, american. Early Times is a brand of Kentucky whiskey produced by the Sazerac Company one of the two largest spirits companies in the United States which purchased the brand in mid 2020 Before the brand purchase it was distilled in Shively Kentucky by the Brown Forman Corporation another of the largest North American owned companies in the spirits and wine business Early TimesA bottle of Early TimesTypeAmerican whiskey labelled as Bourbon in export markets and as Kentucky Whisky within the U S ManufacturerSazerac Company 2020 present Brown Forman 1923 2020 Country of originKentucky United StatesIntroduced1860Alcohol by volume40 00 Proof US 80Related productsWoodford ReserveWhile Early Times is marketed outside the U S as bourbon the whiskey does not meet all the U S regulated criteria for bourbon 1 and hence is marketed within the U S as whiskey rather than as bourbon whiskey In 2010 Brown Forman introduced Early Times 354 in the U S which meets the regulated criteria for straight whiskey 2 Contents 1 History 2 Production and products 3 Marketing activity 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory Edit Early Times 1894 ad The Early Times Whisky brand production started at Early Times Station Kentucky 3 and was introduced in 1860 4 The Kentucky water surrounding the Station was used for making the whiskey The water naturally filtered through limestone springs Early Times was not popular until 1920 when Congress passed the Volstead Act and Prohibition began The brand prospered due to its maker having a license to continue production for medicinal purposes 3 The Brown Forman Company acquired the Early Times brand in 1923 3 and over the next 30 years made Early Times the best selling whisky in the country 3 It later became sold in over 40 countries 3 It ranks as one of the top four selling Kentucky whiskeys in the world and in 2005 it became the top selling Kentucky whisky in Japan 3 In mid 2020 the brand was sold to the Sazerac Company 5 6 7 Production and products EditBefore the sale to Sazerac the brand was owned by Brown Forman and was produced at the Brown Forman Distillery in Shively Kentucky Most of the Early Times which is now sold in the U S cannot legally be labeled as a bourbon whiskey within the U S so it is labeled as Kentucky Whisky Some of the spirits in Early Times are aged in used barrels 8 while bourbon must be aged in new barrels according to the legal requirements for bourbon sold within the U S It is bottled at 40 alcohol by volume Marketing activity EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed March 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message In 1987 Brown Forman contracted with Churchill Downs to market Early Times mint juleps as the official drink of the Kentucky Derby Until 2015 Early Times Mint Juleps were sold during Derby Week each year citation needed The highest priced mint juleps at the event use bourbon from the Brown Forman sister brand Woodford Reserve which is marketed as the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby Old Forester a bourbon also made by Brown Forman later when replaced Early Times as the standard Kentucky Derby whisky for the lower priced mint juleps See also EditJack Daniel s Jim Beam Evan Williams Maker s MarkReferences Edit 27 C F R sec 5 22 l 1 Ecfr gpoaccess gov Archived from the original on 2012 08 17 Retrieved 2013 06 21 Early Times 354 Bourbon Bourbonblog com a b c d e f The Early Times Story Early Times official web site dead link non primary source needed Early Times One of America s Oldest Bourbon Whiskys Celebrates 160 Years Distillery Trail 2020 01 14 Retrieved 2020 08 08 Sazerac Buys Early Times Brand from Brown Forman 15 June 2020 Brown Forman Completes Sale of Early Times and Canadian Mist to Sazerac Brown Forman Brown Forman sells Early Times and Canadian Mist to Sazerac 15 June 2020 Waymack Mark H Harris James F 1995 The Book of Classic American Whiskeys p 100 ISBN 0812693051 OL 784496M External links EditEarly Times website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Early Times amp oldid 1107791007, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
