Early Times |
|
| Type | American whiskey (labelled as Bourbon in export markets, and as Kentucky Whisky within the U.S.) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Brown-Forman |
| Country of origin | Kentucky, United States |
| Introduced | 1860 |
| Alcohol by volume | 40.00% |
| Proof | 80 |
| Related products | Woodford Reserve |
Early Times is a brand of Kentucky whisky produced by the Brown-Forman Corporation. The whisky sold under this brand name outside the United States is labelled as bourbon, while most of the brand bottlings sold within the U.S. do not meet the qualifications for marketing as a bourbon and are just labeled as Kentucky whisky. Whisky sold under this brand name was first distilled in 1860.[1] During the prohibition of alcohol in the U.S., its manufacturer was one of only five whisky producers that were exempt from the law, having been designated as producers of "medicinal whisky".
The Early Times Whisky brand production started at a place called Early Times Station, Kentucky.[1] The Kentucky water surrounding the "Station" was used for making the whisky. The water naturally filtered through limestone springs which the company says makes it rich in minerals that add flavor and help with fermentation. Early Times was not very popular until 1920 when Congress passed the Volstead Act and Prohibition began. The brand prospered due to its maker having a license to continue its production.[1]
The Brown-Forman Company acquired the Early Times brand in 1923[1], and over the next 30 years made Early Times the best-selling whisky in the country.[1] Today it is sold in over 40 countries.[1] It ranks as one of the top four selling bourbons in the world and in 2005 it became the top selling Kentucky whisky in Japan.[1]
Contents |
The brand is currently owned by Brown-Forman and is produced at the Brown-Forman Distillery in Shively, Kentucky. Most of the Early Times which is now sold in the U.S. is not a bourbon whisky, and labeled as "Kentucky Whisky", because 20% of the Early Times whisky is aged in used barrels. However, Early Times which is sold at the export markets is aged in new barrels and meets the legal requirements to be called a bourbon. Both products are bottled at 40% alcohol by volume.
In December 2010, Brown-Forman introduced a new variation of the brand called Early Times 354 in the United States, which is a bourbon.[2]
Starting in 1987, Brown-Forman established a contract agreement with the Churchill Downs Corporation to market Early Times mint julep as the "official drink" of the Kentucky Derby. Over 100,000 Early Times Mint Juleps are purchased at the race track in Louisville, Kentucky during Derby Week each year. However, the highest-priced Mint Juleps at the event use bourbon from the Brown-Forman sister brand Woodford Reserve, which is marketed as the "official bourbon" of the Kentucky Derby.
Early Times is drunk by the Mrs Reilly character in John Kennedy Toole's novel A Confederacy of Dunces. Early Times is also used to spike the punch bowl during the Enchantment Under the Sea Dance in Back to the Future Part II. Early Times is featured in Love in the Ruins by Walker Percy.