Early Times unveils milestone bottled-in-bond Bourbon

Brown-Forman is launching a limited edition Bottled-in-Bond variant of its Early Times Bourbon to mark the 75th anniversary of the brand's original recipe.

The brand, which dates back to 1860, first introduced a bonded Bourbon in the 1940s. The release went on to become America’s "top-selling" Bourbon, and the new variant, Early Times Bottled In Bond Bourbon, is intended to be "a revival" of that era. The US Bottled-in-Bond Act requires Bourbon to be the product of one distillation season, one distiller and from one distillery, aged at least four years in secured federal warehouses and bottled at 50% abv. Early Times Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon is made from the same original recipe, using pure water, a mash bill composed of 79% corn, 11% rye and 10% malted barley, and a proprietary yeast strain. After ageing in new charred American oak barrels for a minimum of four years, the resulting liquid is said to offer light caramel corn with hints of citrus rind, honey and soft oak on the nose, with soft caramel corn, shortbread, chocolate, oak, and cinnamon spice on the palate. The release will hit select US markets next month, including Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Oregon. Early Times Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon will be available at the RRP of US$22.99 for a one-litre bottle. DSP No. 354, home of Early Times, is said to be the longest continuously operating distillery under the same ownership in Kentucky.