Our Story

The Jack•Son•Tucky grew from a desire to finish a journey begun 50 years ago in an old Florida barn on the family farm in Lake City, Florida. Our owner and craft distiller, Sean Espenship, was taught the art of whisky making 20 years ago by his father and uncle. In 2008, Mr. Espenship began traveling the world, toured distilleries, met with master distillers, endeavors in which to build upon the foundation he learned many years ago. With the knowledge distilled, The Jack•Son•Tucky was born.

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The name Jack•Son•Tucky is a play on words, a marriage of the location of the distillery and the birthplace of bourbon: Jacksonville + Kentucky. The name also has a more personal meaning for Mr. Espenship: the name of his father "Jack" combined with the continuation of the family's moonshine legacy though legally by his "Son" meanwhile paying homage to the region famous for its bourbons—Ken"Tucky."

Set steps from the Atlantic Ocean in northeast Florida, this coastal distillery benefits from the salty sea-breeze, the hot humid summers and moderate winters. This allows for continuous aging of its spirits while imparting terroir-like flavors and aromas. Yet it is the barrel that contributes the single most important factor to the essence of our 'new make' spirits distilled from water, yeast, corn, wheat, barley, and rye.

All of our whiskies take 100% of their color from the wood in which they are matured. With over 50% of the final character and flavor determined by the barrel, the oak casks are sourced from the very cooperage that provides 85% of the barrels to the bourbon industry. When emptied many of these same barrels are then shipped overseas giving birth to many exceptional scotches. The barrel is the singular vital component in the whisky making process. It is this reason The Jack•Son•Tucky retains its bourbon barrels after emptying, to transform its 'new make' Jack•Son Buck spirit into a truly special single malt.  

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Our foundation springs from an obsession with quality built upon Six Columns: hone thy Craft; ensure Care of operations; embrace Camaraderie; respect the Community; cultivate a whisky Compulsion; and Character does count. These Six "C's" serve as the bedrock of conviction to The Jack•Son•Tucky's processes in the development of its unique whiskies.