Brown-Forman is a global company headquartered at 850 Dixie highway Louisville, KY,
with employees and offices that span the globe in countries like Europe, Australia, Asia
and the Middle East.
Brown-Forman began in 1870 as JTS Brown and Bro. The company was originally started
by George Garvin Brown and his half-brother J.T.S. Brown. George Garvin Brown was a
young pharmaceutical salesman in Louisville, KY that saw a need for a quality whisky that
met medical standards. Mr. Brown took his savings of $5,500 to start the Old Forester
brand which was developed and sold in glass bottles to preserve the quality. Selling by the
bottle was the first of its kind as most Whisky was sold in barrels at the time.
Several years later in 1889 the original partnership with his half-brother was dissolved and
a new one was formed with George Forman the company’s accountant and friend of
George Garvin Brown. The new company Brown-Forman was incorporated in 1901. In
1904 Owsley Brown son of George Garvin Brown joined the company and started a family
tradition of involvement that continues today.
In 1920 the Prohibition Amendment was adopted and many distilleries were shut down.
However, during this period of prohibition Brown-Forman was one of only ten distilleries
allowed by the US Government to bottle whisky, Old Forester, as a medical product which
helped the company stay in business. In 1923 Brown-Forman acquired Early Times. This
acquisition was necessary as the government required whisky to be stored in specific
warehouses that required permits to be withdrawn. This allowed Brown-Forman the ability
to store all of its whiskey in one location. In 1933 Brown-Forman issued its first public
stock that helped the company build capital and re-enter the market after the depression.
In 1956 Brown-Forman acquired several spirits one of which was Jack Daniels. Jack
Daniels is one of the company’s flagship brands today and the top selling whisky in the
world. In 2005 the Jack Daniels brand saw its highest growth volume in annual sales of 8.2
million cases sold.
Not only does Brown-Forman sell whisky but through acquisitions they sell wines like
Bolla Wines which was purchased in 1968, Korbel Champagnes in 1965 and many others
like Sonoma Cuter, Bel Arbor, Fetzer, and Bonterra. Brown- Forman sells Tequilas like
Pepe Lopez that was acquired in 1967 and Dan Eduardo. They sell Bourbons like
Woodford Reserve and of course its original brand Old Forester.
