Own a rare piece of Kentucky history!
Tract 3 on Windy Rock Lane in Bardstown, KY offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire land that was once home to the original Early Times Distillery.
Own a rare piece of Kentucky history!
Own a rare piece of Kentucky history!
Own a rare piece of Kentucky history!
A Brief History of Early Times Distillery located on Windy Rock Rd !
Founding in Nelson County (circa 1860)
Early Times was founded in 1860 by John Henry "Jack" Beam—Jim Beam’s uncle—near what became
known as Early Times Station, just east of Bardstown, Kentucky. The name honored traditional methods
(“early times”) involving sour mash, copper distillation, and limestone-filtered water.
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Post-Prohibition Expansion
After Prohibition ended (1933), Brown-Forman resumed production at their Old Kentucky Distillery in
Louisville, which was later renamed the Early Times Distillery. By the early 1950s, Early Times became the
best-selling bourbon in America, spreading into over 40 countries—including strong popularity in Japan.
Modern Revivals
In 2010, Brown-Forman released Early Times 354, a return to bourbon-style packaging using the
distillery’s DSP number—but it didn’t catch on.
In 2017, they reintroduced Early Times Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon, returning to the
classic bourbon standards: aged ≥ 4 years, bottled at 100 proof, following the Bottled-in-Bond Act. It
was well received and priced accessibly.
Prohibition and Brown-Forman Acquisition
Following the deaths of Jack Beam and his son Edward in 1915, the distillery ceased operations and later
succumbed to Prohibition. In 1923, Brown-Forman purchased the brand and existing aged stocks,
allowing them to sell Early Times as medicinal whiskey during Prohibition.
Shift from Bourbon to “Kentucky Whisky”
In the 1970s and 1980s, bourbon demand fell. In response, in 1983 Brown-Forman began blending Early
Times with about 20% “light whiskey” aged in used barrels. This change meant it no longer met the legal
definition of bourbon and was rebranded in the U.S. as “Old Style Kentucky Whisky.”
Sazerac Acquisition and Return to Bardstown
In mid-2020, Sazerac Company acquired Early Times (along with Canadian Mist and others).
By 2021, production returned to Bardstown at the Barton 1792 Distillery, marking the first distillation of
Early Times in its original area in over a century. Sazerac continues producing both the Kentucky whisky and
the Bottled-in-Bond bourbon using the original mash bill.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1860 | Founded by Jack Beam near Bardstown (Early Times Station) |
| 1915–1918 | Beam family dies; distillery halts due to Prohibition |
| 1923 | Brown-Forman acquires brand and stock for medicinal whiskey |
| 1933–’50s | Resumed production; becomes top-selling bourbon in US |
| 1983 | Rebranded as Kentucky Whisky due to aging in used barrels |
| 2010 | Released Early Times 354 bourbon (limited success) |
| 2017 | Bottled-in-Bond bourbon reintroduced |
| 2020 | Brand sold to Sazerac |
| 2021 | Production returns to Bardstown at Barton 1792 Distillery |
Legacy & Significance for Bardstown
Early Times’ origin at Early Times Station ties it deeply to Bardstown’s reputation as the Bourbon Capital
of the World Condé Nast Traveler. More than a century later, its return to local production under Sazerac
strengthens that heritage connection.