SAZERAC FORMALLY NAMES TENNESSEE OPERATION AJ BOND DISTILLERY AS COMPANY’S FIRST TENNESSEE WHISKEY PREPARES FOR 2026 DEBUT

LA VERGNE, TN (April 8, 2026) – Sazerac, the global spirits company behind award-winning distilleries including Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky; Hawk’s Rock Distillery in Ireland; and Paul John Distillery in India, is proud to announce the official name of its Tennessee operation as AJ Bond Distillery, marking a major milestone as the company prepares to debut its first Tennessee Whiskey in Summer 2026.

The name honors the bond between industry visionaries Allisa Henley and the late John Lunn, whose shared passion and decades of experience helped bring Sazerac’s Tennessee whiskey ambitions to life. The company entered the category in 2016 with the acquisition of the Popcorn Sutton distillery facility, retaining the skilled production team led by Henley and Lunn. Continued investment in equipment and capabilities followed, culminating in the relocation of the operation in 2019 to its current home in La Vergne, where their legacy continues through ongoing production and aging.

“Formally naming AJ Bond Distillery reinforces our commitment to Tennessee Whiskey and reflects Sazerac’s broader vision to invest in exceptional people, places and traditions that shape the future of American spirits,” said Jake Wenz, President and CEO of Sazerac. “Under Allisa and John’s leadership, this team has built a strong foundation rooted in expertise, passion and a deep respect for the craft. As we look ahead, we are proud to build on their legacy as we continue to balance heritage with innovation in pursuit of producing world-class spirits.”

Henley and Lunn began working together in 2004, developing a strong partnership rooted in technical expertise. The duo worked side-by-side for more than 12 years before joining Sazerac. Their expertise, combined with guidance and resources from Sazerac’s Buffalo Trace Distillery, helped establish the foundation of the operation crafting true Tennessee Whiskey. The AJ Bond name honors Henley and Lunn’s partnership, which was cut short in 2023 with Lunn’s passing.

“John and I worked together for 20 years, and he played a major role in shaping my understanding of the chemistry behind distillation,” said Henley. “We worked diligently to create every aspect of AJ Bond Distillery together. His absence is felt every day, but I know he would be proud of what we’ve created. It’s meaningful to know that the whiskey made here will carry his legacy forward.”

Since the acquisition, AJ Bond Distillery has relocated its operations to La Vergne, Tennessee, expanding production capacity and investing in additional equipment and team members to support the operation’s long-term growth. Today, the distillery is producing and aging what will become Sazerac’s first Tennessee whiskey brand, crafted from a mashbill originally developed by Henley and Lunn.

“From the very beginning, John and I knew we wanted to make a true Tennessee Whiskey, and we’re incredibly proud of the mashbill we’ve developed,” said Henley. “Seeing it now aging in our warehouses has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. Our team has worked tirelessly to bring our shared vision to life, and I’m excited for what is to come.”

The upcoming debut of AJ Bond Distillery’s flagship Tennessee whiskey brand (details to come soon) will mark Sazerac’s formal entry into the category and underscore the company’s commitment to producing award-winning whiskeys world-wide through a thoughtful balance of honoring tradition and embracing innovation. In the years ahead, AJ Bond plans to introduce additional expressions and limited experimental releases designed to explore new possibilities in Tennessee whiskey while remaining grounded in the traditional methods championed by Henley and Lunn. Together, these future offerings will build on the foundation established by the inaugural brand and further strengthen Sazerac’s long-term presence in the category.

More details about AJ Bond Distillery’s inaugural Tennessee Whiskey will be shared in the months ahead as the brand prepares for its Summer 2026 debut.

ABOUT SAZERAC

With over 400 years of history, Sazerac is one of the world’s largest distilled spirits companies. Now in the fourth generation of the current family ownership, Sazerac strives each day to bring the finest spirits to consumers and communities around the world.

Over 500 of the world’s most extraordinary brands are part of the Sazerac portfolio, including Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Eagle Rare, Weller, The Last Drop Distillers, Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, Southern Comfort, Wheatley Vodka, Meyers’s Rum, White X Cognac, Sazerac de Forge Cognac, Paddy’s Irish Whiskey, and many more.

Sazerac is also the steward of many fine distilleries internationally, including Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky, United States; Domaine Sazerac de Segonzac in Cognac, France; Paul John Distillery in Goa, India; and Hawk’s Rock Distillery in County Sligo, Ireland. Additional impressive locations can be found in New Orleans, Montréal, London, Cork and Sydney, to name a few.

To learn more visit www.sazerac.com.

Sazerac making an official move into Tennessee whiskey is something worth paying attention to, especially when you consider how long this has actually been in the works. This isn’t a quick expansion or a rushed product—they acquired the Popcorn Sutton Distillery back in 2016, relocated operations in 2019, and are just now preparing for a Summer 2026 release. That kind of timeline suggests patience, and if there’s one thing Sazerac has proven over the years, it’s that they’re willing to wait when it comes to whiskey. With the influence and track record of Buffalo Trace Distillery behind the scenes, it’s fair to expect a product that’s been carefully developed rather than pushed out just to enter the category.

The naming of AJ Bond Distillery also feels more meaningful than your typical branding exercise. Tying it directly to Allisa Henley and John Lunn—and the two decades they spent working together—adds a level of authenticity that a lot of new distillery launches don’t have. This isn’t a made-up backstory; it’s rooted in real people, real experience, and a mashbill they built together over time. That kind of foundation can matter more than anything else when a new whiskey is trying to stand out in an already crowded space.

As for the whiskey itself, while details are still under wraps, there are a few things that can be reasonably expected. Calling it a “true Tennessee whiskey” points toward the Lincoln County Process, and given how long this has been aging, there’s a strong possibility we’re looking at something with respectable maturity right out of the gate. At the same time, this is still Sazerac, so the profile will likely lean toward balance and approachability rather than anything overly experimental. The bigger question will be how it positions itself alongside established names like Jack Daniel’s and George Dickel, both of which have defined the category for decades.

Ultimately, this feels like a calculated, long-term play rather than a splashy one. If the pricing lands in a reasonable range and the whiskey delivers on quality, there’s real potential here to appeal not just to Tennessee whiskey fans, but to bourbon drinkers as well. For now, it’s a wait-and-see situation, but based on Sazerac’s track record and the time they’ve invested, this is a release that shouldn’t be overlooked.

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