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All,

I see the two words used apparently interchangeably.

Is it one or the other, or is one more right than the other? Do they refer to different types of structures?

Rackhouse or Rickhouse? - that is the question.

ccm

Ive never heard 'rackhouse" before

cc the aging warehouse is called a rackhouse by distillers around the World, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, US and wherever else whisky is made but that refers to the building itself.

Inside the warehouse the barrels are held by ricks (particularly in a multi story structure) which has made the term rickhouse currently popular. Strictly speaking I suppose one could say a rackhouse is a building filled with ricks holding barrels of whisky. In terms of correctness the difference between rackhouse and rickhouse is about the same as whiskey and whisky.

Doug I'm reminded of one of Booker Noe's famous quotes, "I'd live in a rackhouse if they would let me".

Thanks Squire.

Rackhouse it is.

Too bad, I kind of liked the sound of rickhouse.

ccm

Surely though "rick" is a corruption of rack, an alternate pronunciation and spelling.

Gary

However it devolved I believe the term rickhouse is in more common use now.