Early Times Bottled-in-Bond: The Complete Story — Brown-Forman Legacy, Sazerac Transition, Black Cap vs. Blue Cap, New 750ml Square Bottles, Shrinkflation Concerns & How It Differs From Standard Early Times

Few bourbons have built such a devoted following while still maintaining “budget” status as Early Times Bottled-in-Bond. For years, Arkansas bourbon drinkers and collectors across the United States have praised its exceptional value, 100-proof punch, classic flavor profile, and deep historical roots. However, the brand’s journey has become increasingly complex—marked by corporate transitions, packaging changes, bottle redesigns, and new developments that may signal one of the most significant turning points in its modern history.

This comprehensive article explores everything you need to know about Early Times Bottled-in-Bond, including:

• Its origins and Brown-Forman legacy
• The Bottled-in-Bond Act’s importance
• The Sazerac acquisition
• The black-cap vs. blue-cap era
• The newly spotted 750ml square bottle
• Questions about shrinkflation
• Whether Sazerac has finally exhausted the original Brown-Forman distillate
• A full comparison between standard Early Times and Early Times Bottled-in-Bond

This is one of the most detailed and accurate Early Times breakdowns available online, created specifically for bourbon enthusiasts in Arkansas and beyond.

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Early Times Origins (1860–1923)

Early Times traces its roots back to 1860, when Jack Beam, nephew of the legendary Jim Beam, founded the brand in Nelson County, Kentucky. At the time, American whiskey quality varied wildly, and many distillers sold blended or rectified spirits that were adulterated with additives.

Jack Beam marketed Early Times as a whiskey made “the early times way” — honest, straightforward, and reliably produced. This dedication to true bourbon-making would eventually align the brand with the future Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, which established key standards still in use today.

Early Times survived Prohibition, changed hands, and eventually became a staple of the American whiskey landscape.

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Brown-Forman Acquires Early Times (1923–2020)

In 1923, Brown-Forman — one of Kentucky’s most powerful distilling companies — acquired Early Times along with aged inventory and production assets. Under Brown-Forman, the brand flourished for nearly a century, becoming:

• One of the best-selling U.S. whiskeys of the mid-20th century
• A bar and restaurant staple
• A widely exported spirit
• A recognizable name in nearly every liquor store in America

However, Early Times would not return to its Bottled-in-Bond roots until much later.

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The Meaning of Bottled-in-Bond

The Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 created strict regulations to guarantee whiskey purity. Bottled-in-Bond whiskey must be:

• Distilled in one season
• By one distiller
• At one distillery
• Aged at least four years
• Bottled at exactly 100 proof
• Stored in a federally bonded warehouse
• Labeled with its DSP (Distilled Spirits Plant) number

These rules help ensure transparency, consistency, and authenticity.

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Early Times Bottled-in-Bond Relaunch (2017)

In 2017, Brown-Forman reintroduced Early Times Bottled-in-Bond to the market in a 1-liter bottle, intended to blend heritage authenticity with everyday affordability. It quickly became a phenomenon among enthusiasts because of its:

• Classic Brown-Forman flavor profile (banana bread, caramel, toasted oak)
• Higher proof
• Bottled-in-Bond guarantees
• Unmatched value for the price

The bottle featured a black screw-top cap — a detail that would later become important to collectors.

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The Brown-Forman Black-Cap Era

Collectors refer to the pre-2020 Early Times BiB bottles as “black-cap” bottles, produced entirely under Brown-Forman. These bottles remain highly respected due to their flavor profile, consistency, and connection to Early Times’ heritage.

For many enthusiasts, black-caps represent the best era of Early Times Bottled-in-Bond.

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The 2020 Sale to Sazerac

In June 2020, Brown-Forman announced it would sell Early Times, Canadian Mist, and Collingwood to Sazerac — owner of Buffalo Trace, Weller, Blanton’s, Eagle Rare, and Barton 1792.

The sale closed on July 31, 2020, giving Sazerac:

• The Early Times brand
• Inventory of aged Brown-Forman distillate
• Existing barrel stocks
• Production equipment

Because Sazerac inherited a large supply of aged Brown-Forman whiskey, Early Times Bottled-in-Bond continued to taste familiar for years after the acquisition.

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Moves to Barton 1792 Distillery

Sazerac later confirmed that Early Times production would transition to Barton 1792 in Bardstown, Kentucky. This move returned the brand to its original county and allowed Sazerac to control long-term production.

Sazerac stated that Barton would follow:

• The same mashbill
• The same proprietary yeast strain
• The same intended sensory profile

This commitment was meant to reassure fans who feared a change in taste.

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The Sazerac Blue-Cap Era

Once Sazerac assumed control, Early Times Bottled-in-Bond began appearing with a blue metal cap instead of the classic black cap. These bottles:

• Were still often filled with Brown-Forman distillate
• Featured updated DSP and labeling language
• Maintained the 1-liter size (until recently)
• Continued to sell extremely well in Arkansas

For several years, blue-cap bottles represented a transitional era between Brown-Forman and Sazerac/Barton production.

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Two Different Early Times Products Exist — and They Are NOT the Same

Many new bourbon drinkers are unaware that Early Times comes in two distinct variations:

1. Early Times (Standard / Kentucky Whisky) — NOT bourbon
2. Early Times Bottled-in-Bond — A TRUE Kentucky Straight Bourbon

They share the same name but are fundamentally different products.

Here is the full comparison:

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Early Times Standard vs Early Times Bottled-in-Bond — Comparison Table

Category	Early Times (Standard / Kentucky Whisky)	Early Times Bottled-in-Bond
Classification	Kentucky Whisky (not bourbon)*	Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Mashbill	Not fully disclosed; may include whiskey aged in used barrels	79% Corn, 11% Rye, 10% Malted Barley (reported Brown-Forman recipe)
Barrels Used	Can include used barrels (why it cannot be labeled “bourbon”)	Must use new, charred American oak
Age	No Age Statement (NAS)	Minimum 4 years
Legal Protections	Standard regulations	Bound by the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897
Proof	80 proof	100 proof
Flavor Profile	Light, mild, easy-drinking	Richer, fuller, caramel, banana bread, oak, spice
Bottle Size	Usually 750ml	Traditionally 1 liter (now moving to 750ml square bottle)
Target Buyer	Casual, budget whiskey drinkers	Bourbon enthusiasts, bartenders, value seekers
Cap Style	Varies by bottling	Black cap (Brown-Forman) → blue cap (Sazerac)
Price Range	~$12–$16	~$22–$30

*Standard Early Times is NOT bourbon because it uses used barrels, which disqualifies it from bourbon status.

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Breaking News: Early Times Bottled-in-Bond Spotted in a New 750ml Square Bottle

In a stunning development, respected whiskey enthusiast Abe Wyly recently spotted Early Times Bottled-in-Bond in a new 750ml square bottle — a major departure from the long-standing 1-liter format.

The new bottle features:

• A square profile similar to other Sazerac products
• A blue metal cap
• Updated modern Sazerac styling
• A reduced 750ml volume

No official documentation from Sazerac or the TTB has confirmed this change, but the photographic evidence is impossible to ignore.

This discovery immediately sparked two major questions:

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Is This the Start of Bourbon Shrinkflation?

Shrinkflation — reducing product size without lowering price — has been creeping into nearly every consumer goods category. Moving Early Times BiB from 1L to 750ml dramatically increases its cost per ounce.

Given that Early Times BiB has long been known as a “value bottle,” this is a major concern for consumers.

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Does the Square Bottle Mean Sazerac Finally Ran Out of Brown-Forman Distillate?

This is the bigger and more important question.

There is strong reason to believe that:

• The Brown-Forman barrels inherited in 2020 are now depleted
• Barton-distilled Early Times BiB has reached 4+ years of age
• Sazerac may be preparing to debut its first fully Sazerac-distilled Early Times Bottled-in-Bond
• The new bottle design marks the beginning of this new chapter

Distilleries often change packaging when the liquid inside changes. The timing aligns perfectly with when Barton-produced Early Times would be hitting maturity.

If true, this square bottle marks the official start of a new era.

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These Bottles Have Not Yet Hit Arkansas

As of now, the 750ml square Early Times Bottled-in-Bond has not arrived in Arkansas. Stores across Little Rock, Benton, Bryant, Conway, Hot Springs, and Northwest Arkansas continue to stock the familiar 1-liter blue-cap version.

But once a new Sazerac bottle appears in one state, it usually reaches Arkansas quickly.

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What This Means for Arkansas Drinkers

If the 750ml square bottles do indeed contain the first Sazerac-distilled Early Times BiB, Arkansas consumers will soon be among the first to taste the brand’s next chapter.

Collectors should expect:

• Rising value of remaining black-cap Brown-Forman bottles
• Increased interest in blue-cap transitional bottles
• Curiosity (and scrutiny) around the first Barton-distilled BiB
• Price-per-ounce increases due to the smaller bottle size

This is a major moment for one of America’s longest-running whiskey brands.