A Little Of Our Story Timber Creek Distillery & Winery

Timber Creek Distillery barn under oak trees in Crestview, Florida

Timber Creek Distillery is a grain-to-glass craft distillery on a 240-acre family farm in Crestview, Florida, about 45 minutes north of Destin. Master Distiller Aaron Barnes and co-founder Camden Ford started it in 2014, and every spirit is milled, fermented, distilled, aged and blended on site.

Timber Creek at a Glance

  • Founded: 2014
  • Founders: Aaron Barnes (Master Distiller) and Camden Ford
  • Location: 6451 Lake Ella Rd, Crestview, FL 32539
  • Property: 240-acre family farm in the Florida Panhandle
  • Process: Grain-to-glass, using the proprietary PureBlend® method
  • Awards: More than 40 medals in blind competition, including five golds
  • Power: Off-grid solar array of roughly 160 panels with battery storage
  • Water: A 285-foot well into the limestone aquifer below the property
  • Phone: (408) 439-0973

How Did Timber Creek Distillery Start?

Timber Creek started in 2014 when two neighbors, Aaron Barnes, a homebrewer, and Camden Ford, a former tech engineer, set out to build whiskey from the ground up in the Florida Panhandle. They chose to make every spirit from raw grain on their own farm rather than buy bulk spirit and bottle it. Early press coverage called the distillery the maker of Florida’s first bourbon, and the lineup has grown since to include whiskey, bourbon, vodka, gin and rum.

What Is the PureBlend® Process?

PureBlend® is Timber Creek’s proprietary method of making whiskey one grain at a time. Most distilleries cook corn, wheat, rye and barley together in a single mash. At Timber Creek, each grain is fermented and distilled on its own, aged in its own barrel, and then blended by component. That means the flavor of a finished whiskey is decided after aging, when every grain’s character is known, instead of being locked in on day one. The approach is explained in detail in our guide to separate-grain distillation.

Where Do the Grain and Water Come From?

Timber Creek sources its grain from North Florida farms and mills it at the distillery. That includes Florida Black Rye, a regional variety that gives Florida Black Rye Whiskey its spice and structure, and northwest Florida red soft winter wheat, the base of Florida Vodka. Water comes from a 285-foot well drawing on the limestone aquifer beneath the property. Read more about what makes Florida whiskey different.

Does Timber Creek Run Off-Grid?

Yes. Timber Creek runs largely off-grid. A solar array of roughly 160 panels produces about 50 kilowatts in full sun, a hybrid battery system stores that power, and generators back it up when needed. Process heat comes from propane. The rickhouses have no artificial heating or cooling, so the Florida climate drives barrel aging. Whiskey ages in new American white oak barrels in 15-gallon and 53-gallon sizes. See how the distillery runs off-grid.

What Awards Has Timber Creek Won?

Timber Creek has earned more than 40 medals in blind competition across six spirit categories, including five gold medals across vodka, rum, rye whiskey and bourbon. The Fifty Best named Florida Vodka the Best Domestic Vodka in 2019, a year after awarding Timber Creek gold for Best White Rum. The full record is on the awards page.

Where Has Timber Creek Been Featured?

Timber Creek appears in The Spirit of Rye by Carlo DeVito (2021), Fodor’s American Spirits (2024) and Whiskey Lore’s Travel Guide by Drew Hannush. Read our latest news and press coverage.

What Spirits Does Timber Creek Make?

The lineup includes Florida Whiskey, Southern Reserve, Florida Black Rye Whiskey, Florida Single Malt Whiskey, Florida Vodka, Florida Gin, and a range of rums from Florida Rum to Barrel Aged Florida Rum. The Bourbon Blending Kit lets you blend your own whiskey at home. Browse the full spirits lineup.

Can You Visit Timber Creek Distillery?

Yes. The distillery is about 45 minutes north of Destin and welcomes visitors for tours and tastings, the Bourbon Blending Experience, private events and Pizza Saturdays. Plan on 1.5 to 3 hours for a visit. Because the distillery runs off-grid, check Facebook or Instagram for updates before you drive out. Here is what to expect on your first visit.

Launch Your Own Spirit Brand

Timber Creek also distills private label spirits for businesses, venues and individuals. Pricing is $20 per bottle for vodka, rum and gin, and $40 per bottle for whiskey and bourbon, with a 60-bottle minimum. Start your private label spirit.