<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000014693-12-000047.txt : 20120502
<SEC-HEADER>0000014693-12-000047.hdr.sgml : 20120502
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120502140542
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000014693-12-000047
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120430
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120502
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120502

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VARGA PAUL C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001257384

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	002-26821
		FILM NUMBER:		12804225

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		850 DIXIE HIGHWAY
		CITY:			LOUISVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40210

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0305</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-04-30</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000014693</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BROWN FORMAN CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BFA, BFB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001257384</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VARGA PAUL C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>850 DIXIE HIGHWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOUISVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>KY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>40210</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-04-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5032</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>84.59</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>73975</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21513</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Right</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>43.10</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-05-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-04-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class B Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>61266</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>61266</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Right</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>61.24</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2013-05-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-04-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class B Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>85299</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>85299</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Right</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>73.95</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2014-05-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2021-04-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class B Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>60085</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>60085</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">To satisfy tax withholding obligations associated with the July 24, 2008 grant of Class A common stock that vested on April 30, 2012, the reporting person surrendered 5,032 shares of Class A common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The closing price of BF-A ($84.59) on April 30, 2012 was used to calculate the tax withholding obligations.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Diane M. Barhorst, Atty. in Fact for Paul C. Varga</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-05-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>varga.htm
<TEXT>
<HTML><BODY><PRE>Know all by these present that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints

each of Michael B. Crutcher, John R. Edds, Diane Barhorst and Nelea A. Absher,

signing singly, the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:



1. execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the undersigned's capacity

as an officer and/or director of Brown-Forman Corporation (the "Company"),

Forms 3, 4, and 5 in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange

Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder;



2. do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned which

may be necessary or desirable to complete and execute any such Form 3, 4, or 5,

complete and execute any amendment or amendments thereto, and timely file such

form with the United States Security and Exchange Commission and any stock

exchange or similar authority; and 3. take any other action of any type

whatsoever in connection with the foregoing which, in the opinion of such

attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally

required by, the undersigned, it being understood that the documents executed

by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Power of

Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as

such attorney-in-fact may approve in such attorney-in-facts's discretion.



The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact full power and

authority to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite,

necessary, or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers

herin granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or

could do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation,

hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact, or such

attorney-in fact's substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue

of this power and the rights and powers herein granted.  The undersigned

acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity

at the request of the undersigned, are not assuming, nor is the Company

assuming, any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply with Section 16

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  This Power of Attorney shall remain in

full force and effect until the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms

3, 4, and 5 with respect to the undersigned's holdings of and transactions in

securities issued by the Company, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in

a signed writing delivered to the forgoing attorneys-in-fact.



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be

executed as of this 25th day of July, 2003.





Signature:  /s/ Paul C. Varga

</PRE></BODY></HTML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
