April 29, 2026 (Saint Paul, MN) — Johnson Brothers, a leading family-owned distributor of wine, spirits, and beer, today announced an expansion of its partnership with Brown-Forman through the Johnson Brothers Collective. Effective June 1, Brown-Forman will join Johnson Brothers Collective across eight control states: Idaho, Iowa, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
This expansion builds on the strong foundation between the two organizations and reflects a shared commitment to delivering best-in-class execution in control markets, where coordination, partnership, and local expertise are critical to success.
“Brown-Forman is an exceptional partner, and this expansion reflects the strength of our relationship and the results we’re delivering together,” said Mark Hubler, CEO, Johnson Brothers. “The Johnson Brothers Collective is purpose-built for control states, and we’re proud to bring a model that prioritizes accountability, execution, and strong collaboration with state agencies.”
The Johnson Brothers Collective is a stand-alone brokerage model purpose-built for control states, delivering strong early results and positive feedback from supplier partners and state liquor control boards since launching in 2025. The model continues to gain momentum as Johnson Brothers builds toward a best-in-class platform for control-state execution.
“Brown-Forman is extremely pleased to further deepen our relationship with Johnson Brothers,” said Robinson Brown IV, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, USA & Canada, Brown-Forman. “By leveraging their commercial execution and local expertise, we are confident we will drive growth and connect even more consumers with our iconic brands. We have seen great success with our expanded partnership this year, and we are excited to continue building on this momentum in the years ahead.”
The addition of Brown-Forman further strengthens the Johnson Brothers Collective’s growing portfolio and underscores the value of a disciplined, execution-driven approach in these highly regulated environments.
About Johnson Brothers
Johnson Brothers is a third-generation, family-owned wine, beer, and spirits distributor founded in 1953 by Lynn Johnson in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Guided by its founding values of work ethic, teamwork, excellence, innovation, passion, and integrity, the company partners with top-tier suppliers to deliver a world-class portfolio and exceptional service to customers across 25 states. The company was recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Most Trustworthy Companies for three consecutive years (2023–2025). Learn more at johnsonbrothers.com | LinkedIn | Instagram.
About Brown-Forman
Brown-Forman Corporation is a global leader in the spirits industry, responsibly building exceptional beverage alcohol brands for more than 155 years. Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, we are guided by our founding promise, “Nothing Better in the Market.” Our premium portfolio includes the Jack Daniel’s Family of Brands, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester, New Mix, el Jimador, Herradura, The Glendronach, Glenglassaugh, Benriach, Diplomático Rum, Gin Mare, Fords Gin, Chambord, and Slane. With approximately 5,000 employees worldwide, we proudly share our passion for fine-quality spirits in more than 170 countries. Learn more at brown-forman.com and stay connected with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and X.
