Overview
- The flagship A.J. Bond Tennessee Whiskey begins hitting Tennessee shelves in June 2026 and carries an MSRP of about $39.99, with broader U.S. distribution scheduled later in 2026.
- The spirit is made from a single mashbill and blends two streams—one pot-still and one column-still—each filtered through sugar-maple charcoal under the Lincoln County Process, aged separately, then bonded and bottled at 95 proof.
- Sazerac developed the project after buying Avery’s Trail Distillery in 2016, moved production to a new La Vergne facility, and named the brand to honor the partnership between master blender Allisa Henley and the late master distiller John Lunn.
- The company says it sources locally where possible, citing corn from Batey Farms and barrels made with Tennessee oak, but some specifics of sourcing and the exact mashbill remain undisclosed.
- The release signals Sazerac’s formal entry into a Tennessee-whiskey market dominated by legacy names and could expand the company’s portfolio as it rolls out additional AJ Bond expressions in the coming years.