Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE: BF.B)

Brown-Forman is one of the largest American-owned spirits companies, best known as the maker of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey—one of the most iconic alcohol brands in the world. The company also produces Woodford Reserve, Old Forester, Herradura tequila, and Diplomatico rum. Brown-Forman is controlled by the Brown family, which has maintained ownership for over 150 years.

Brown-Forman earns revenue from the production and sale of premium spirits globally, with Jack Daniel's accounting for the majority of operating profit. The company's owned-brand model (versus a distributor model) gives it control over pricing and brand building.

George Garvin Brown founded the company in 1870 in Louisville, Kentucky, originally selling whiskey in sealed glass bottles to guarantee quality—a novel concept at the time. Brown-Forman acquired Jack Daniel's in 1956, a deal that would prove to be one of the most valuable brand acquisitions in spirits history. The company has remained family-controlled through dual-class shares for over 150 years.