History

It all began in 1896, when John Meleck had the crazy idea to grow his first rice on 20 acres of swampy land in southern Louisiana. Five generations later we still grow rice – and now crawfish – on the same 20 acres as Uncle John. The result is American Rice, born right here on our farm in Branch, LA. We take rice production from field to bottle and bring it to the table as a Louisiana classic.

We work the land and grow the seed, just as Uncle John did. That's why the company is called J.T. Meleck. Farm to Bottle describes our approach: harvested, distilled and bottled with us in Branch, LA. We are proud to tell our story and share our passion for whiskey that transcends flavors and cultural roots.

The philosophy is to combine old traditions with a touch of innovation to create exceptional spirits and give whiskey lovers a unique experience. We offer a virtual tour to meet owner Mike Frugé and get a look into our facilities.