It’s widely known as a legendary American whiskey – but it appears Jack Daniel’s actually originated somewhat closer to home.

A recipe identical to the world’s best-selling whiskey has been discovered in a dusty old book in a small South Wales town.

The history of Jack Daniel's is a mystery because the distillery's early records were destroyed in a courthouse fire.

But the Jack Daniel's website states the founder of the distillery was from Wales - and now the discovery has piqued the interest of staff in America.

Businessman Mark Evans, 54, says he was researching his family history when he discovered the recipe in a book of herbal remedies.

It was written in 1853 by his great-great grandmother, who was a local herbalist in Llanelli and whose surname was Daniels.

Her brother-in-law left the Welsh town at about the same time to move to Lynchburg, Tennessee, where the Jack Daniel's distillery opened three years later.

Mr Evans says he's 'pretty sure' he's discovered the original recipe in his great-great grandmother's book, saying the ingredients written there match what goes into the whiskey.

He added that she wrote in the book in 1853, so it predates Jack Daniel's - which is dated 1866.

Mr Evans' 97-year-old grandmother Lillian Daniels Probert, who still lives in Llanelli, can recall her own grandmother using the book to make herbal remedies and ointments.

There is a link, because my grandmother's grandfather's brother - my great-great uncle - left for America, and nobody ever heard from him after a couple of letters. That was during the time that Jack Daniel's was set up, but more important than that, he was called John 'Jack the Lad' Daniels. We know he went to Lynchburg, Tennessee - and I'm pretty sure he used great-great granny's recipe to start off the whiskey business.

A Jack Daniel's spokesperson said they were intrigued by Mr Evans' discovery.