Crafting Custom Whiskey: Timber Creek Distillery’s Collaboration with Angelo’s Steak Pit

In the Florida Panhandle,  Timber Creek Distillery is changing the way whiskey gets made. Founded in 2014 by neighbors Camden Ford, a former tech engineer, and Aaron Barnes, a passionate homebrewer, Timber Creek sits on a 230-acre family farm in Crestview. What started as a hobby quickly became Florida’s first bourbon distillery, now known for award-winning spirits including vodka, rum, gin, and a seriously impressive whiskey lineup.

But the real magic? It’s in how we do things differently. Instead of the traditional approach, we distill and age 100 percent single grain whiskeys corn, rye, wheat, and barley, then blend them later to dial in the perfect flavor. That flexibility opens the door to custom whiskeys that are truly one of a kind.

Most bourbon starts with a mash bill, a grain recipe that’s milled, mashed, fermented, distilled, and aged all at once. Each grain brings its own character. Corn adds sweetness and body, rye brings spice, wheat smooths things out, and barley adds a nutty note while helping with fermentation. Once that recipe is locked in, you’re stuck with it for years while it ages—good luck making changes.

At Timber Creek, we do it the opposite way. We distill each grain on its own, using Florida-grown ingredients like our rare Florida 401 Black Rye, which gives off warm baking spices and a honeyed finish. Once the whiskeys are aged, we blend them to taste. Want something spicier? Add more rye. Looking for something smooth and sweet? Go heavy on the corn and wheat. It’s quick, it’s flexible, and the results are phenomenal.

That’s how Big Gus Black Rye Bourbon was born.

For over four years, we’ve partnered with Angelo’s Steak Pit, a Panama City Beach legend that’s been serving sizzling steaks and seafood since 1958. Founded by Angelo Butchikas and now run by his grandson George, Angelo’s is known for its chargrilled cuts, fried crab claws, and a big personality, starting with the giant 20,000 pound steer statue out front. If you’ve driven by, you’ve seen Big Gus.

George is a whiskey guy. When we first met, he came out to the distillery and fell in love with our Florida 401 Black Rye. Together, we blended a bold bourbon just for Angelo’s:
55 percent corn for sweetness, 40 percent rye for spice, and 5 percent barley for depth. Bottled at 100 proof and left unfiltered for maximum flavor, it’s got notes of caramel, sweet corn, and smoked cinnamon. Perfect with a big steak.

George doesn’t just put his name on the bottle, he helps make it. Every batch, he’s at the distillery blending by hand, sometimes bringing his team along to help bottle it. It’s part whiskey, part team bonding, and 100 percent personal. The result? Big Gus is now a top seller and a true extension of Angelo’s bold style.

At Timber Creek, this is what private labeling is all about. No long timelines. No guesswork. Just real whiskey, real fast, handmade way you want it with guidance from distillers who know their craft. If you’re a restaurant, brand, or just someone who wants a whiskey to call your own, we’re ready when you are.

Let’s make something unforgettable.