Sazerac Company has named its Tennessee whiskey operation AJ Bond Distillery, signaling a major step toward the company’s long-anticipated entry into the Tennessee whiskey category.
Located in La Vergne, Tennessee, the newly named distillery honors the legacy and partnership of Master Distiller Allisa Henley and the late John Lunn, whose combined expertise laid the foundation for Sazerac’s Tennessee whiskey program.
Honoring a Legacy in Tennessee Whiskey
The name “AJ Bond” reflects the professional and personal bond between Allisa (Henley) and John (Lunn), who worked together for over two decades. Their collaboration began long before Sazerac’s 2016 acquisition of the former Popcorn Sutton facility and continued through the buildout and expansion of the current operation.
Lunn’s passing in 2023 makes the naming especially meaningful, as the distillery will carry forward the vision the two developed together.
A Decade in the Making
Since entering the Tennessee whiskey space in 2016, Sazerac has steadily invested in production capabilities, relocating operations in 2019 to La Vergne to expand capacity and modernize equipment.
The distillery is currently producing and aging whiskey based on a mashbill developed by Henley and Lunn, which will form the foundation of Sazerac’s first Tennessee whiskey brand.
First Tennessee Whiskey Release Coming in 2026
Sazerac confirmed that its inaugural Tennessee whiskey will debut in summer 2026, marking the company’s formal entry into a category long dominated by legacy producers.
Future plans for AJ Bond Distillery include:
- Additional core expressions
- Limited experimental releases
- Continued innovation within traditional Tennessee whiskey methods
Balancing Heritage and Innovation
Leadership emphasized that the AJ Bond Distillery represents more than a name—it embodies Sazerac’s broader strategy of investing in people, craftsmanship, and long-term whiskey development.
The distillery will join Sazerac’s global portfolio, which includes operations like Buffalo Trace Distillery, reinforcing the company’s growing footprint across American whiskey categories.
Looking Ahead
With whiskey already aging in warehouses and a flagship release on the horizon, AJ Bond Distillery positions Sazerac to become a significant new player in Tennessee whiskey.
More details on the inaugural brand and its profile are expected in the coming months.
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