Jack Daniel’s unveils exclusive McLaren Formula 1 Team whiskey

The relationship between whisky brands and race cars has long been one of glamour and adventure, providing a platform with global reach, high-end hospitality, and a wealth of opportunities for limited-editions and collectable bottlings. Once a leading name in NASCAR sponsorship, one such brand is Jack Daniel’s, which more recently turned its attention to the high-octane arena of Formula 1. Announcing in 2023 that it was teaming up with the superstars at the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team, the partnership combines the commercial acclaim of Jack Daniel’s with the masculine dynamism of Formula 1, rapidly increasing the bourbon brand’s visibility and alignment with fans of the premium sporting event.

For 2026, the duo has announced the release of the Halo MK1 Tennessee Whiskey this July. Jack Daniel’s most premium pour to date, the whiskey will appeal to Formula 1 fans and whiskey collectors, with its unique outer shell taking design cues from the iconic HALO structure of McLaren’s Formula 1 race car. Reimagined as a vessel for Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, the striking packaging features hand-finished cork and custom medallions, alloy metal, micro-suede and carbon fibre print — mirroring the materials used in McLaren’s award-winning, high-performance Formula 1 cars.

With 2026 seeing both brands meeting historic milestones, it’s arguably a timely celebration. 2026 marks the year of McLaren’s 1000th Formula 1® Grand Prix and the 160th anniversary of the Jack Daniel Distillery.

Related news: Silverstone to open Moët & Chandon Club for British GP 2026Jack Daniel’s Global Managing Director, Mark Bacon, comments: “We are thrilled to continue to celebrate many fantastic years of partnership with McLaren with the debut of…a remarkable bottle that is destined to become a collector’s item for Formula 1 fans and whiskey drinkers alike.”

McLaren Racing’s Chief Marketing Officer, Louise McEwen, adds, “By drawing inspiration from our racing innovation and honouring the legacy of Bruce McLaren, this release brings together McLaren’s racing DNA and Jack Daniel’s whiskey-making tradition in a way that feels both authentic and truly collectable.”

As for the whiskey itself? Halo MK1 Tennessee Whiskey starts with Jack Daniel’s signature grain bill of 80% corn, 8% rye, and 12% malted barley, charcoal mellowed through 10 feet of sugar maple charcoal. Aged in handcrafted bespoke American white oak barrels, the Halo MK1 Tennessee Whiskey is bottled at 58.7% ABV, a nod to McLaren Founder Bruce McLaren, whose first race car was #58 and an Austin 7 Ulster model.

For those wondering how a super-premium Jack Daniel’s tastes, Master Distiller Chris Fletcher promises sweet maple, fruit and toasted oak on the nose, sweet caramel, chocolate, pipe tobacco and baking spice, with lingering notes of barrel spice and brown-sugar candy.