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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QNccvBmTGNP+KHEq+2/9ghAQ6STy2Vpxf3yCYjBTxNSViPqOKwvhrUCWLxDTGbxB
 guro7h2EFVzVEUjllqY82g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000014693-03-000060.txt : 20030716
<SEC-HEADER>0000014693-03-000060.hdr.sgml : 20030716
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030716134330
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000014693-03-000060
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030715
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030716

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BROWN FORMAN CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000014693
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BEVERAGES [2080]
		IRS NUMBER:				610143150
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0430

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		850 DIXIE HWY
		CITY:			LOUISVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40210
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5025851100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 1080
		CITY:			LOUISVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40201

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BROWN FORMAN INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19870816

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BROWN FORMAN DISTILLERS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19840807

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BROWN FORMAN DISTILLERY CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19670730

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BROWN W L LYONS JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001157326

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	002-26821
		FILM NUMBER:		03788869

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CL/O WESTVACO CORP
		STREET 2:		ONE HIGH RIDGE PK
		CITY:			STAMFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06905
		BUSINESS PHONE:		203 461 7400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C;/O WESTVACO CORP
		STREET 2:		ONE HIGH RIDGE PARK
		CITY:			STAMFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06905
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-15</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000014693</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BROWN FORMAN CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BFA, BFB</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001157326</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BROWN W L LYONS JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Class A Common</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1351</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>210241</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNat
ure></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Class A Common</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1351</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>308510</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>GRAT Grantor Trust)</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Filing of this form should not be construed as an admission that the filing person is, 
for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the 'beneficial owner' of any equity securities held in a limited partnership or in trust and reported on this form.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Reporting person, subject to footnote 1 above, indirectly owns a beneficial interest in 209,456 shares held by 2002 LLC, 1,722.3 shares held by Partnership/Nectar, 219,004.3 shares held by Trust/Partnership, 1,018,347.3 shares held by Trust/Remainder, 163,443 shares held by spouse.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>John R. Edds  Attn. in Fact for: W.L. Lyons Brown, Jr.</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-16</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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