Sazerac launches AJ Bond Tennessee whiskey
Buffalo Trace owner Sazerac has entered the Tennessee whiskey market with its first flagship expression from AJ Bond Distillery.
AJ Bond Distillery’s master distillers, Allisa Henley and the late John Lunn, created the whiskey.
Named after the bond between its creators, the whiskey reflects a partnership that influenced both its origin and production process. In 2016, the two set out to establish a new standard, leveraging decades of expertise to develop the distillery’s flagship expression.
“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 made from a single mash bill using locally sourced ingredients, such as corn from family-owned Batey Farms in Murfreesboro.
It is produced through a dual-distillation process that utilises both pot and column stills.
In accordance with the category standards, each distillate is ‘charcoal-mellowed’ using sugar maple charcoal, then aged separately in Tennessee oak barrels and married.
Bottled at 47.5% ABV, the whiskey displays aromas of wedding cake, caramel corn, butterscotch, and a subtle redwood undertone. On the palate, it offers notes of baked apple, charred fruit, marzipan, powdered cinnamon and brandied cherry, with hints of cream soda and baking chocolate.
Henley added: “We wanted to raise expectations for what Tennessee whiskey can be. Every decision behind this whiskey was driven by a commitment to quality and a belief that innovation and tradition can work hand in hand.
“By combining pot and column still distillation and bonding those components after ageing, we have created a whiskey that sets a new standard for the category.”
AJ Bond Tennessee Whiskey is set to be released in Tennessee this month (June) through Sazerac’s distributor network, with a suggested retail price of US$39.99.
Following the initial launch, broader distribution to select US states is expected to begin in late 2026.
The flagship expression marks the launch of the AJ Bond Distillery portfolio, which will introduce additional whiskeys in the coming years.
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