A nondescript warehouse in La Vergne is the key dwelling to a brand new spirits firm that is able to flip the Tennessee whiskey world upside-down. AJ Bond is a subsidiary of Sazerac, the New Orleans-based spirits firm that owns legendary manufacturers starting from BuzzBallz, Fireball and Benchmark on the low finish to the rarified marks of Blanton’s, Eagle Uncommon and Pappy Van Winkle on the opposite.
AJ Bond has been a 10-year effort to carry a Tennessee whiskey into the portfolio. It was initially began by former George Dickel distillers John Lunn and Allisa Henley, who had labored collectively for 20 years at completely different operations earlier than Lunn tragically handed away in 2023 whereas their newest mission was nonetheless growing old within the barrel. The trail to market began in Newport, Tenn., on the former Popcorn Sutton distillery.
Engaged on small pot stills, Henley and Lunn produced a whole bunch of barrels of what would develop into an essential part of AJ Bond. These barrels had been palletized for storage, which turned out to be useful when Sazerac bought the distillery and needed to transfer greater than 200 truckloads of product to their new facility in La Vergne. That bigger distillery can be the place Sazerac put in a bigger and quicker column nonetheless to supply the second part of their new Tennessee whiskey.
Sourcing corn from Batey Farms in Murfreesboro, every manufacturing technique reveals completely different traits of the components. Pot stills create extra complicated flavors, as a result of distillers have to decide on when to make the cuts of what are referred to as “heads” and “tails” initially and finish of a manufacturing run. These choices permit for complicated molecules like esters and aldehydes to stay within the closing mix, contributing fruity and spicy notes.
Column-distilled whiskeys are typically cleaner and extra constant. Every part is barreled individually earlier than Henley and her workers mix the whiskeys to create the ultimate product. The whiskey additionally has to go by maple charcoal earlier than reposing in Tennessee oak barrels as a part of the Lincoln County Course of that defines Tennessee whiskey.
A pot nonetheless and column nonetheless at AJ Bond
I used to be lucky to tour the distillery previous to the primary launch and style the pot nonetheless product and the column distillate, in addition to the ultimate mix. Though most people will in all probability by no means style the separate elements, I used to be struck by how completely different they had been, and in addition how effectively they complemented one another within the closing mix.
The pot nonetheless whiskey was peppery with a number of baking spice notes that truly jogged my memory just a little little bit of a rye whiskey. The column nonetheless distillate was heat with a number of caramel and a lengthy honey end. When it was blended collectively, I used to be reminded of candy hickory smoke — one thing that I completely love!
There isn’t any age declare on the bottle. However I am assured that, like most good whiskeys, the present launch is no less than 5 years outdated, and it’s fairly potential that a few of these barrels is perhaps as outdated as 9 years outdated. Bottled at 95 proof, AJ Bond is clean sufficient to sip, but in addition highly effective sufficient to face out in a whiskey-forward cocktail. The preliminary acknowledged normal retail value was $39.99, which I felt was fairly honest for a whiskey of this age, high quality and proof, however I’ve already seen it on liquor retailer cabinets for a number of {dollars} cheaper.
Allisa Henley
That is solely the primary product launch from AJ Bond, and Sazerac is known for experimentation at its numerous distilling amenities. The rickhouse at AJ Bond is crammed with all kinds of progressive merchandise which may make their means into future releases for themselves or probably even a few of their company cousins. Lunn and Henley at all times had a spark of innovation of their collaborations, and no matter comes subsequent will characterize each of their concepts and inventive spirit.
If this primary launch is any indication, there’s a very brilliant future for what’s occurring in La Vergne!
“We wished to lift expectations for what Tennessee Whiskey could be,” says Allisa Henley. “Each resolution behind this whiskey was pushed by a dedication to high quality and a perception that innovation and custom can work hand in hand. By combining pot and column nonetheless distillation and bonding these elements after growing old, we’ve created a whiskey that units a brand new normal for the class.”
Henley will probably be at Frugal MacDoogal (701 Division St.) on Thursday, June 4, from 2 till 5 p.m. to supply tastings and signal bottles of AJ Bond if you would like to pattern with the grasp distiller.
