"Micro" distillery coming to St. Augustine?

[blizz01]

As not to limit ourselves to just beer.....

Distillery in the works for St. Augustine

By Roger Bull

Locally made whiskey, rum and vodka could soon be part of the St. Augustine tourist scene.

Philip McDaniel is planning to open St. Augustine Distillery in the old ice plant on Riberia Street. But unlike most of the micro distilleries that have been opening around the country lately, this one will include tours, tastings, a museum and videos.
McDaniel said he’s still raising the $3.5 million needed, but he’s applied for the licenses. Opening, he said, should be in the first quarter of next year.
The plan, he said is to use Florida-grown ingredients to produce a variety of liquors, including whiskeys aged at least three years.
“It’s about taking Florida agriculture and making a new product,” he said. “So many of our vodkas come from Europe, our rums from the Caribbean. If we can make a premium quality product, that’s more jobs in the United States.
Dave Pickerell, a master distiller at Maker’s Mark for more than a decade, will be in charge of formulating the spirits, interviewing, hiring and training the eventual distiller.
McDaniel is retired from sales and marketing, but said he got excited about the new wave of micro distilleries that's following in the wake of small wineries and craft breweries.
The American Distilling Institute has predicted that there will be more than 400 micro distilleries in the country by the end of 2015. Ten years ago, there were less than 60.
St. Augustine would be the 13th small distillery in the state. The closest to Jacksonville is currently Flagler Spirits in Palm Coast.

Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/amber-waves/2012-05-16/story/distillery-works-st-augustine#ixzz1v51YHmSQ

[smithke17]

interesting, i know a guy bought an old warehouse right where 16 and 208 fork off agricultural center rd. i believe it's open, but it's just a beer brewery. still cool though.

[Jason]

^ You're thinking of Mile Marker Brewery.  Try the 1565, its awesome!

http://www.milemarkerbrewing.com/



I'm lovin that I'll have another spot to hang out.  That is an awesome building and is located adjacent the defunct San Sebastian Inland Harbor project at the intersection of Riberia and Cedar (south of King St. kinda behind the Winery).  Definitely keeping an eye on this one!

[birdilicious]

This sounds like a great idea.  I spoke to Brian Miller from Bold City Brewery and he mentioned this idea a little while back.  Our region is being known for it's beer I can't wait until we're known for liquor too

[blizz01]

Wow - talk a bout a delayed reaction - I posted this ~4+ months ago.....Someone needs to check in on them.

[Jason]

Heh, I didn't notice the posting date at all.

I'll be keeping tabs.  I was by there a week or two ago and didn't notice any activity, although I wasn't looking for it either.

[Jason]

Just an update.  I passed by the site this morning and noticed a contractor mulling around.  He looked to be doing to interior demolition work.  If things are progressing, it's happening slowly.

[billy]

The old icehouse?

[Jason]

Yeah, it's located "behind" the San Sebastian Winery, at the intersection of Riberia and Cedar.

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=29.889337,-81.318617&spn=0.001795,0.002411&t=h&z=19

[blizz01]

More on this:

http://jacksonville.com/business/2013-05-03/story/distillery-takes-shape-st-augustine

[Jason]

Sure am looking forward to this one!

[Jason]

Grand opening this weekend!

https://www.facebook.com/StAugustineDistilleryCompany

[fieldafm]

Went this past weekend and bought my two bottle limit.
It's the same building (and owners) as the Ice Plant bar/restaurant.

[Jason]

What did you get?

[fieldafm]

They only have a cane sugar vodka now. They'll be making rum in the summer. There are about a dozen barrels of bourbon, but they won't be for sale for a few years still.