Sazerac Released Its First Tennessee Whiskey, A.J. Bond
Sazerac is rooted in American whiskey, but the company has delved into many other categories as well, including Irish, scotch, and even Indian single malt. Its latest endeavor, A.J. Bond, is its first attempt at an intrinsically American category, however: Tennessee whiskey. We have the details to share about this brand-new release.
Sazerac got into the Tennessee whiskey business back in 2016 when it purchased the Avery’s Trail Distillery in Newport, Tennessee, where the Popcorn Sutton brand was made. Master distiller John Lunn and master blender Allisa Henley, both of whom previously worked for George Dickel before joining Popcorn Sutton, were kept on by Sazerac—and their names are the basis of the A.J. Bond brand name (Lunn sadly passed away in 2023).
A.J. Bond Tennessee Whiskey is the result of their work over the past decade. It’s made from a “singular” mashbill, according to the brand, but like other Sazerac whiskeys the exact recipe is not revealed. What we do know is the whiskey was distilled on both column and pot stills, and each new make spirit goes through the Lincoln County process, during which it’s filtered through sugar maple charcoal before barreling. Both whiskey components are aged separately before being blended together and bottled at 95 proof. The brand says it’s trying to source locally as much as possible by using corn from the family-owned Batey Farms in Murfreesboro and aging its whiskey in Tennessee oak barrels. The official tasting notes describe wedding cake and caramel corn aromas on the nose, followed by notes of baked apple, charred fruit, marzipan, cinnamon, and brandied cherry on the palate, wrapping up with peppercorn and chestnut honey on the finish.
“We wanted to raise expectations for what Tennessee whiskey can be,” said Henley in a statement. “By combining pot and column still distillation and bonding those components after aging, we have created a whiskey that sets a new standard for the category . . . 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.”
According to the brand, the flagship A.J. Bond Tennessee Whiskey (SRP $40) is the just the start, and there will be more expressions released over the coming years. This is another bullish move from Sazerac, which seems focused on a positive long-term picture despite the headwinds that the industry is facing. It remains to be seen how A.J. Bond will fare in a category dominated by Jack Daniel’s, of course, but the point doesn’t seem to compete with the biggest name in the sector . . . at least, not yet.
