Brown-Forman is a diversified producer of fine quality consumer products, employing 4,120 people worldwide. The company is one of the largest American-owned spirits and wine companies, and is among the ten largest global spirits companies.

The company was founded in 1870 by George Garvin Brown, a young pharmaceuticals salesman in Louisville, who had the idea of selling top-grade whisky in sealed glass bottles. Since then, it has grown into a company that in fiscal 2006 had sales of $2.4 billion. The Brown family controls more than 70% of the voting shares.