The story behind the ADA President

David Ridden & Granddad Jack’s: The Distillery That Refused to Follow

In a spirit’s industry where most distilleries rely heavily on retailers, bars, and distributors, Granddad Jack’s Craft Distillery has built an entirely different path. Founded in 2018 by David Ridden and his son Luke, the Queensland based business operates on a bold principle: never sell its products to big retailers or wholesale outlets.

Instead, their Australian sales come directly through the distillery’s own venues and online store, while the balance is exported into handpicked international markets across Asia and Europe. The model has given Granddad Jack’s total control over its customer experience, margins, and brand identity, something rarely seen in Australia’s excise heavy distilling landscape.

But Granddad Jack’s is more than a distillery. It’s a tribute to Ridden’s grandfather, “Granddad Jack,” whose resilience and grit continue to inspire the brand’s “No Half-Assery” ethos. Each spirit tells a story, and each venue feels like stepping into a living piece of family history.

Despite its medium size, the business has had an outsized impact on the industry. It has mentored and supported many other Australian distillers, helping them to open and grow their own operations. Ridden, now President of the Australian Distillers Association, says his motivation is simple:

“I love fighting for small business, and I love sharing my experience in business and the distilling industry to help others grow strategically and successfully.”

He’s also known for a mantra that sums up Granddad Jack’s philosophy:

“You can’t win if all you do is follow. You must take your own path, create new ways because you can’t pass the one in front of you by just following them.”

With sold out monthly releases, award-winning spirits, and loyal communities at home and abroad, Granddad Jack’s has shown the industry that it’s possible to succeed without following conventional ways and build long term business sustainability.