Early Times

Last updated
Early Times
Early Times.JPG
A bottle of Early Times
Type American whiskey (labelled as Bourbon in export markets, and as Kentucky Whisky within the U.S.)
Manufacturer Sazerac Company (2020–present)
Country of origin Kentucky, United States
Introduced1860
Alcohol by volume 40.00%
Proof (US) 80
Related products Woodford Reserve

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.

Contents

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]

History

Early Times 1894 ad EARLY TIMES DISTILLERY CO, - Pacific wine and spirit review (1894) (14781695394) (cropped).jpg
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

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.

Marketing activity

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. [9] 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, replaced Early Times starting May 2nd, 2015 [10] as the standard Kentucky Derby whisky for the lower-priced mint juleps.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian whisky</span> Type of whisky produced in Canada

Canadian whisky is a type of whisky produced in Canada. Most Canadian whiskies are blended multi-grain liquors containing a large percentage of corn spirits, and are typically lighter and smoother than other whisky styles. When Canadian distillers began adding small amounts of highly-flavourful rye grain to their mashes, people began demanding this new rye-flavoured whisky, referring to it simply as "rye". Today, as for the past two centuries, the terms "rye whisky" and "Canadian whisky" are used interchangeably in Canada and refer to exactly the same product, which generally is made with only a small amount of rye grain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rye whiskey</span> Distilled alcoholic beverage

Rye whiskey can refer to two different, but related, types of whiskey:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mint julep</span> Cocktail

Mint julep is a mixed alcoholic drink, or cocktail, consisting primarily of bourbon, sugar, water, crushed or shaved ice, and fresh mint. As a bourbon-based cocktail, it is associated with the American South and the cuisine of the Southern United States in general, and the Kentucky Derby in particular.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maker's Mark</span> Bourbon whisky that is distilled in Loretto, Kentucky, by Beam Suntory

Maker's Mark is a small-batch bourbon whisky produced in Loretto, Kentucky, by Beam Suntory. It is bottled at 90 U.S. proof and sold in squarish bottles sealed with red wax. The distillery offers tours, and is part of the American Whiskey Trail and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heaven Hill</span> American distillery company

Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. is a private, American family-owned and operated distillery founded in 1935 and headquartered in Bardstown, Kentucky, that produces and markets the Heaven Hill brand of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and a variety of other distilled spirits. Its current distillery facility, called the Heaven Hill Bernheim distillery, is in Louisville, Kentucky. It is the seventh-largest alcohol supplier in the United States, the second-largest holder of bourbon whiskey inventory in the world, the largest, independent, family-owned and operated producer and marketer of distilled spirits in the United States, and the only large family-owned distillery company headquartered in Kentucky.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woodford Reserve</span> Premium small batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey produced by the Brown-Forman Corporation

Woodford Reserve is a brand of premium small batch Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey produced in Woodford County, Kentucky, by the Brown-Forman Corporation. It is made from a mixture of copper pot still spirits produced at the company's Woodford Reserve Distillery, and column still spirits from the Brown Forman Distillery in Shively, Kentucky. Each 45.2% alcohol by volume bottle bears a unique batch and bottle number. The brand was introduced in 1996. Domestic sales of Woodford Reserve surpassed one million cases in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eagle Rare</span>

Eagle Rare is a brand of bourbon whiskey distilled and distributed by the Buffalo Trace Distillery. Eagle Rare is 90 proof bourbon, aged for either 10 or 17 years, depending on the variety. It was introduced in 1975 and is distilled in Frankfort, Kentucky.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brown–Forman</span> American-owned spirit and wine producer and distributor

The Brown–Forman Corporation is an American company, one of the largest in the spirits and wine business. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, it manufactures several well known brands throughout the world, including Jack Daniel's, Old Forester, Woodford Reserve, GlenDronach, BenRiach, Glenglassaugh, Finlandia, Herradura, Korbel, and Chambord. Brown–Forman formerly owned Southern Comfort and Tuaca before selling them off in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buffalo Trace Distillery</span> United States historic place

Buffalo Trace Distillery is a distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, owned by the Sazerac Company. It has historically been known by several names, including the George T. Stagg Distillery and the Old Fashioned Copper (O.F.C.) Distillery. Its namesake bourbon brand, Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey, was introduced in August 1999. The company claims the distillery is the oldest continuously-operating distillery in the United States. The company says the name "Buffalo Trace" refers to an ancient buffalo crossing on the banks of the Kentucky River in Franklin County, Kentucky. The Sazerac Company purchased the distillery in 1992.

W. L. Weller is a brand of "wheated" bourbon whiskey. The brand was created by the Stitzel-Weller Distilling Company, and was sold several times after 1972. Since 1999, the brand has been owned by the Sazerac Company. It is produced at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. Like all bourbons, Weller is distilled from a mash composed of at least 51% corn (maize). The secondary grain used for the Weller brand is wheat, whereas most bourbons use rye.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1792 Bourbon</span> Kentucky straight Bourbon whiskey produced by the Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown, KY

1792 Bourbon, formerly known as Ridgewood Reserve 1792 and 1792 Ridgemont Reserve, is a Kentucky straight Bourbon whiskey produced since 2002 by the Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. The brand and distillery have been owned by the Sazerac Company since 2009. It is part of a line of small-batch bourbons aimed at the high-end liquor market. It is sold at 93.7 U.S. proof.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kentucky Tavern</span>

Kentucky Tavern is a brand of straight bourbon whiskey produced by the Sazerac Company at the Barton Distillery located in Bardstown, Kentucky, who acquired the brand from United Distillers in 1995. The brand was originally produced and owned by the R. Monarch Distillery of Owensboro, Kentucky, which entered bankruptcy in 1898 and was purchased by James Thompson in 1901 who renamed the company Glenmore Distillery Company with locations in Owensboro and Louisville, Kentucky. In 1903 the Kentucky Tavern trademark was first registered. Glenmore proved a successful and durable company, its main brand being Kentucky Tavern. It is usually produced as an 80 proof liquor, although a 100 proof is also available.

Firefly Distillery is a company located near Park Circle North Charleston, South Carolina, that produces a line of alcoholic beverages and licenses its brand name to the Sazerac Company for Firefly branded products produced elsewhere. Some Firefly branded products sold outside of South Carolina are actually produced in Kentucky by Sazerac rather than being produced by Firefly itself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Mist</span>

Canadian Mist is a brand of blended Canadian whisky produced by the Sazerac Company. It is distilled in Collingwood, Ontario, and is bottled at 40% alcohol by volume. It is triple-distilled using a continuous distillation process, and it is aged in charred white oak barrels in a temperature-controlled facility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Forester</span> The first bottled bourbon

Old Forester is a brand of Kentucky straight bourbon whisky produced by the Brown–Forman Corporation. It has been on the market continuously for longer than any other bourbon, and was the first bourbon sold exclusively in sealed bottles. It was first bottled and marketed in 1870 by the former pharmaceutical salesman turned bourbon-merchant George Garvin Brown — the founder of the Brown–Forman Corporation. During the Prohibition period from 1920 to 1933, Brown–Forman received one of only six licenses authorizing lawful production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glenmore Distillery Company</span>

Glenmore Distillery Company was a large distillery company based in Owensboro, Kentucky best known as a producer of bourbon whiskey. In 2009, the company was acquired by the Sazerac Company, and is still operated under the name "The Glenmore Distillery".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sazerac Company</span> Alcoholic drinks company based in New Orleans, US

Sazerac Company, Inc is a privately held American alcoholic beverage company headquartered in Metairie in the metropolitan area of New Orleans, Louisiana, but with its principal office in Louisville, Kentucky. The company is owned by billionaire William Goldring and his family. As of 2017, it operated nine distilleries, had 2,000 employees, and operated in 112 countries. It is one of the two largest spirits companies in the United States, with annual revenue of about $1 billion made from selling about 300 mostly discount brands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stitzel–Weller Distillery</span>

Stitzel–Weller Distillery is a former distillery located in Shively, a suburb of Louisville, Kentucky. It was founded in 1935, sold in 1972, and closed in 1992. It produced a number of notable brands, and since 2014 it has served as a public tourism site for Bulleit Bourbon, as part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

References

  1. "27 C.F.R. sec 5.22(l)(1)". Ecfr.gpoaccess.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-08-17. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
  2. Early Times 354 Bourbon, Bourbonblog.com.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 The Early Times Story, Early Times official web site[ dead link ][ non-primary source needed ]
  4. "Early Times – One of America's Oldest (Bourbon) Whiskys Celebrates 160 Years". Distillery Trail. 2020-01-14. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  5. "Sazerac Buys Early Times Brand from Brown-Forman". 15 June 2020.
  6. "Brown-Forman Completes Sale of Early Times and Canadian Mist to Sazerac | Brown Forman".
  7. "Brown-Forman sells Early Times and Canadian Mist to Sazerac". 15 June 2020.
  8. Waymack, Mark H.; Harris, James F. (1995). The Book of Classic American Whiskeys. p. 100. ISBN   0812693051. OL   784496M.
  9. Julep, Early Times Mint (2014-03-12). "Early Times Mint Julep Releases Commemorative Derby Bottle". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  10. Pardilla, Caroline (2015-05-01). "Surprise...The Kentucky Derby Hasn't Sold Real Mint Juleps in 18 Years". Eater. Retrieved 2023-02-02.