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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000014693-04-000002.txt : 20040107
<SEC-HEADER>0000014693-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20040107
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040107101017
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000014693-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040105
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040107

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BROWN OWSLEY II
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000902312

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	002-26821
		FILM NUMBER:		04511916

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

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>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-05</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000014693</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BROWN FORMAN CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BFA, BFB</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000902312</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BROWN OWSLEY II</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>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chairman &amp; CEO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class A Common</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-05</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2288</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>93380</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></di
rectOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>100016</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>BHP Ltd Partnership</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class A Common</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-05</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2288</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode
><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>197724</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>GRAT (Grantor Trust)</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>11479</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>GRAT 12/01</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>49982</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></p
ostTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Ltd Partnership </value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>264805</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Ltd Partnership PTP</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>971.9</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Partnership LTD</value></natureOfOwnership></owne
rshipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1722.3</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Partnership/Nectar</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>219004.3</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Trust/Partnership</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4
34503</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Trust/Remainder</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class A Common</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-05</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>113</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>86188</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Spouse</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>528</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>651</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Ltd Partnership</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></securityTitle
><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>73.1</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Partnership</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1650</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Partnership/Hebe</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>462008.5</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</va
lue></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Trust/Partnership</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>440690.5</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Trust/Remainder</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class A Common</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-05</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1702</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><trans
actionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>91678</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>36.13</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1999-05-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-04-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>30347</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>30347</value></share
sOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>49.13</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2000-05-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-04-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>27153</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>27153</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><d
erivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>50.44</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-05-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-04-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>39542</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>39542</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>61.25</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-05-01</value></exercis
eDate><expirationDate><value>2008-04-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>25361</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>25361</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>62.25</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-05-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-04-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>27257</value></underlyingSecur
ityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>27257</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>64.22</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2005-05-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-04-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>39636</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>39636</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non_Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>68.33</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-05-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-04-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>31263</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>31263</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><convers
ionOrExercisePrice><value>100.00</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2006-05-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-08-31</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>300</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>300</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>78.45</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2006-05-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-04-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value
>Class B Common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>39605</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>39605</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><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 also holds a direct ownership interest in 85,424 shares and subject to footnote 1 above, indirectly owns a beneficial interest in 203,392 shares held by a Grantor Trust, 11,479 shares held by Grat 12/01, 49,9
82 shares held by LTD Partnership, 264,805 shares held by Ltd Partnership PTP, 971.9 shares held by Partnership Ltd, 219,004.3 shares held by Trust/Partnership, 434,503 shares held by Trust Remainder, 1,722.25 shares held by Partnership Nectar, 100,016 shares held by BHP Ltd Partnership.
</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Nelea A. Absher, Attn In Fact for: Owsley Brown II</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-07</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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