Sazerac enters Tennessee whiskey market with launch of AJ Bond Distillery’s flagship expression
The new whiskey honors the partnership between master distillers Allisa Henley and John Lunn and marks Sazerac’s expansion into Tennessee whiskey.
USA – Sazerac, the owner of Buffalo Trace, has officially entered the Tennessee whiskey category with the launch of the first flagship expression from AJ Bond Distillery.
The new AJ Bond Tennessee Whiskey was developed by master distillers Allisa Henley and the late John Lunn, whose longstanding professional partnership inspired both the brand and the whiskey itself.
Named after the bond between its creators, the product reflects years of collaboration and shared expertise in whiskey making.
According to Sazerac, Henley and Lunn began working toward the creation of the distillery’s flagship whiskey in 2016, drawing on decades of industry experience to establish a new standard for Tennessee whiskey production.
“AJ Bond Tennessee Whiskey is deeply personal,” said Henley. “John and I built this together over years of shared experience, and this whiskey carries forward his legacy. It’s a reflection of the respect we have for the process, the people who taught us, and the bond we will forever share.”
The straight Tennessee whiskey is produced from a single mash bill using locally sourced ingredients, including corn supplied by family-owned Batey Farms in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The whiskey is crafted through a dual-distillation process that combines both pot and column stills.
Bottled at 47.5% alcohol by volume (ABV), the whiskey offers aromas of “wedding cake and caramel corn, complemented by butterscotch and a subtle redwood undertone,” according to the company.
The new expression is now available across Tennessee through Sazerac’s distributor network at a suggested retail price of US$39.99. Following the initial launch, the company plans to expand distribution to select U.S. states beginning in late 2026.
Sazerac said additional expressions under the AJ Bond Distillery portfolio are expected to be introduced in the coming years as the brand expands its presence in the premium whiskey market.
The launch comes shortly after reports emerged that Sazerac’s takeover approach for Brown-Forman, owner of the Jack Daniel’s brand, had been rejected.
In April, The Wall Street Journal reported that Sazerac had submitted an offer valued at approximately US$15 billion for Brown-Forman, although Sazerac has not publicly commented on the reported bid.
Sazerac is reported to generate more than US$6 billion in annual net sales.
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