Early Times Bottled-in-Bond Price Jumps 25% in Arkansas as New Bottle Hits Shelves Nationally

Last Updated on February 21, 2026 by Justin Jones

PUBLISH DATE: February 21, 2026

Early Times Bottled-in-Bond is quietly becoming one of the most talked-about budget bourbons in Arkansas — not because of a new award or a flashy barrel pick, but because of a 25% price increase and a bottle transition that has many local enthusiasts scrambling to secure the old 1-liter format.

If you’ve been watching shelves at stores like Warehouse Liquor and Five Star Liquor, you’ve already seen it happening.

The Arkansas Price Shift

Here’s what we’re seeing on the ground:

• Warehouse Liquor:
  • Old Price: $15.99
  • New Price: $19.99
  • Increase: ~25%
• Five Star Liquor:
  • Old Price: $16.99
  • New Price: $18.99
  • Increase: More modest, currently the lowest verified pricing in the state

For years, Early Times Bottled-in-Bond was arguably the best value in bourbon — 100 proof, age-stated, Bottled-in-Bond, and sold in a generous 1-liter bottle. That math was hard to beat.

Now that pricing is shifting upward, and the format is changing, consumer behavior is shifting with it.

The Bottle Change: 1 Liter to 750mL

The legacy version most Arkansas drinkers know and love was the 1-liter bottle distilled by Brown-Forman before the brand was sold to Barton 1792 Distillery, owned by Sazerac Company.

While the Early Times brand continues, the distillate and production control changed hands when Brown-Forman divested the label.

The current bottles hitting shelves reflect:

• A new bottle design
• A shift to the standard 750mL format
• New Barton-produced distillate

Less whiskey. New source. Higher price.

That combination has the bourbon community paying attention.

YouTube Reviews: “Not Just Different… Bad”

Multiple YouTube bourbon reviewers have begun posting side-by-side comparisons of the Brown-Forman 1L version versus the newer Barton-produced release.

The overall theme?

Not “different.”
Not “subtle change.”
But in several cases — “bad.”

Common criticisms include:

• Thinner mouthfeel
• Harsh ethanol presence
• Loss of the signature nutty, caramel-forward profile
• Short, bitter finish

Now, to be fair, taste is subjective. But when independent reviewers across multiple channels start echoing the same concerns, consumers notice.

And Arkansas drinkers are responding accordingly.

Shelf Behavior: Old Stock Is Moving

Reports across the state suggest that as soon as older 1-liter bottles are spotted at legacy pricing, they’re being scooped up.

Why?

Because even at $19.99, the old 1L version still undercuts most 750mL Bottled-in-Bond competitors on a per-ounce basis.

For context:

• Old 1L at $19.99 = still strong value
• New 750mL at similar pricing = materially more expensive per ounce

That math matters in the budget bourbon lane.

Is This the End of an Era?

Early Times Bottled-in-Bond has long been one of the “insider” Arkansas recommendations — a bottom-shelf sleeper that punched well above its weight.

But this moment marks something bigger:

1. The final fade-out of Brown-Forman’s Early Times distillate
2. A noticeable price reset
3. A perception shift in quality

For collectors and value hunters, the old 1L bottles are quickly becoming a “grab it if you see it” situation.

For everyday drinkers, the bigger question is whether the new release can settle into consistency over time.

The Broader Trend: Budget Bourbon Isn’t Safe Anymore

Early Times is not alone.

Across the country, heritage brands are:

• Shrinking bottle sizes
• Adjusting sourcing
• Raising pricing
• Testing consumer tolerance

Arkansas remains one of the better value states for bourbon pricing overall, but even here, the days of $15 Bottled-in-Bond may be behind us.

Final Thoughts for Arkansas Shoppers

If you see the older 1-liter Early Times Bottled-in-Bond on the shelf:

• Check the bottle format
• Check the back label
• Decide whether the price still makes sense to you

Because once those are gone, they are gone.

And based on early consumer feedback, this transition may go down as one of the more noticeable quality shifts in the value bourbon category.