Daddy Rack

Daddy Rack is a Tennessee whiskey brand created by J. Arthur Rackham, a British-born spirits maker and blender with roots in Cognac and decades in the drinks industry. The range includes Daddy Rack Tennessee Straight Whiskey, Single Barrel Cask Strength and Jimmy Rack Tennessee Rye Cask Strength.

The flagship whiskey is bottled in Columbia, Tennessee, and made in small batches using corn from local farmers. It is positioned as a smooth, classic Tennessee straight whiskey, with vanilla, maple syrup, caramelised banana, apple and oak on the nose, followed by toffee, tobacco, raisin, cinnamon, black pepper and nutmeg on the palate.

J. Arthur Rackham, known as Daddy Rack, was born above his father’s liquor store on Portobello Road in west London and began his spirits career in Cognac in the late 1960s. English drinks trade background, French spirits training, then to the Jack Daniel’s-dominated territory in American whiskey. Not exactly the most direct route. But the man himself appears an enigma, and his whiskey is made in his image, not shy, subtle or dressed for a tasting panel in beige. It is Tennessee whiskey with a showman’s grin, which you can read more about on the Master of Malt blog.