Florida Craft Spirits · Distillery Guide · 2026
Florida-Made Whiskey Brands
Worth Knowing (and Pouring)
When most people think of American whiskey, their minds drift to Kentucky hollows. But the Sunshine State has quietly built one of the more interesting craft whiskey scenes in the country — driven by distillers working with the Florida climate, sourcing local grains, and pushing the boundaries of what Southern whiskey can actually be.
Florida Panhandle · Crestview · Florida’s Most Awarded Distillery
Timber Creek sits on a working family farm just north of Destin — a grain-to-glass operation in the truest sense. Founded by neighbors Camden Ford and Master Distiller Aaron Barnes, it has grown into the most decorated craft distillery in Florida. Their proprietary PureBlend® process distills and barrel-ages each grain — corn, wheat, rye, and barley — individually, then blends post-aging for extraordinary flavor control. The grains are local: Florida-grown Yellow #2 Dent Corn, Red Soft Winter Wheat, and the crown jewel, Florida 401 Black Rye — an heirloom strain grown nowhere else on Earth. Their full lineup spans bourbon, rye, single malt, rum, vodka, and gin, all made on-site. If you’re in the Panhandle, their distillery tours, tastings, and hands-on bourbon blending experiences are some of the most rewarding in the South.
Florida Bourbon
93 Proof · Wheated · Unfiltered
A corn, wheat, and barley wheated bourbon bottled unfiltered at 93 proof. Smooth, sweet, and approachable — the entry point into the Timber Creek lineup and a natural fit neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail. The kind of bottle that earns a permanent spot on the shelf.
Southern Reserve Bourbon
100 Proof · Four-Grain · Unfiltered
The four-grain flagship — corn, Florida Black Rye, wheat, and single malt barley, each distilled and aged separately before blending. The rye adds spice, the barley rounds the edges, and the wheat keeps the sweetness in balance. Bottled at 100 proof because anything lower would flatten it. This is the one people sip slowly.
Florida Black Rye Whiskey
93 Proof · 100% Florida 401 Black Rye · Silver Medal — North American Whiskey Competition
Made entirely from Florida 401 Black Rye — a grain that only grows here, in sandy Panhandle soil that produces it nowhere else on the planet. Spicy, floral, and forward on the palate with a hot, distinctive finish. If you want to understand what Florida terroir actually tastes like in a glass, this is the pour that answers the question.
American Single Malt Whiskey
90 Proof · 100% Barley · Unfiltered
100% barley, aged in #3 charred American oak, bottled unfiltered at 90 proof. Buttery, well-balanced, and clean — no smoke, no peat. Hand-selected barrels blended for a round, consistent pour with caramel and vanilla sweetness from the barrel. Scotch drinkers who’ve written off American single malt should pour this before deciding.
Bourbon Blending Kit
100 Proof Each · Four Single-Grain Whiskeys · Industry First
The whiskey industry’s first bourbon blending kit — four single-grain whiskeys (100% corn, wheat, rye, and barley) packaged together so you can blend your own custom mash bill at home. If you want to understand what individual grains actually taste like before they’re married together, this is how you learn. Also the best whiskey gift you’ll give this year.
Florida Gulf Coast · Veteran Cause
Copper Collar is a Florida Gulf Coast Bourbon with a mission behind the label — a dedication to military divers, commercial divers, and all those who work, protect, and explore on and under the sea. Made from Florida grains and Florida spring water, with a portion of every bottle sold going to veterans’ support.
Copper Collar Bourbon
Florida Gulf Coast Bourbon · Florida Grains & Florida Spring Water
A superior Florida bourbon whiskey crafted to embody the spirit of adventure and craftsmanship of the Gulf Coast. Bold and purposeful, with a character built for those who understand what it means to work at depth. Read the full tasting profile before the first pour.
Florida Panhandle · House Bourbon
Angelo’s Steakhouse
Angelo’s Steakhouse carries its own house bourbon — blended specifically for the table, built on Timber Creek’s Florida Black Rye, and named in honor of Big Gus. The kind of pour a great steakhouse deserves: bold, Florida-made, and not available anywhere else.
Big Gus Black Rye Bourbon
Custom Blend · Florida Black Rye Base · House Exclusive
Built on Timber Creek’s Florida 401 Black Rye — the only rye grain grown in Florida’s sandy Panhandle soil. Bold, spiced, and tailored to match the quality of every plate that comes out of the kitchen. Not a label on a generic spirit — a custom-blended expression made from scratch, grain to glass, for a table that deserves it.
Florida Panhandle · Blended Bourbon Whiskey · Proudly Crafted in Florida
The Henderson
The Henderson is a two-expression blended bourbon whiskey line distilled from Florida grains — each bottle hand crafted and proudly made in Florida. The label carries a classic Southern estate and a simple crest that signals the brand’s identity: refined, deliberate, and rooted in the Sunshine State.
The Henderson Black Rye Blended Bourbon
90 Proof · 45% ABV · 750ml · Distilled from Florida Grains
Built on Florida 401 Black Rye — the heirloom grain that only grows in Panhandle soil. The rye leads here: spicy, floral, and assertive on the palate with a heat that announces itself and a finish that earns its proof. The most distinctly Floridian pour in the Henderson lineup.
The Henderson Reserve Blended Bourbon
96 Proof · 48% ABV · 750ml · Distilled from Florida Grains
The Reserve steps up in both proof and complexity — a blended bourbon with deeper oak presence, more structure, and a longer, more measured finish than the Black Rye expression. Richer and more nuanced. This is the one you pour when the conversation slows down and the glass deserves your full attention.
Emerald Coast · Veteran-Owned · Florida Fresh Certified
Firesides is a veteran-owned, small-batch operation on Florida’s Emerald Coast founded by former special-operations aviators to revive the military tradition of the “fini” meeting — aircrews gathering after missions to swap stories and raise a glass. Every kernel of grain is grown in Florida, every drop cut with pure Florida water, earning the Florida Fresh certification. At least one founder handles every bottle from blending to boxing. The story behind the brand is worth reading before you open a bottle. Their current lineup can be ordered directly through the distillery.
1st Blood
90 Proof · 45% ABV · Florida Grains & Florida Water
The entry expression — approachable and layered, built for the first pour of the evening.
Nose Inviting waves of vanilla bean and soft caramel
Palate Silky at first — restrained oak layered with subtle baking spices, then a playful burst of black pepper mid-sip that rises and swiftly recedes
Finish The pepper glow gives way to toasted oak and a lingering drizzle of honey — smooth and warmly satisfying
Big Daddy
100 Proof · 50% ABV · Florida Grains & Florida Water
The powerhouse expression — silky-smooth and surprisingly drinkable at full proof, built to linger.
Nose Vanilla, caramel, and a sprinkle of baking spices
Palate Silky-smooth oak glides across the tongue — light and balanced from start to finish
Finish A warm echo of toasted oak that lingers long after the swallow, leaving the palate eager for another pour
St. Augustine · #1 Craft Distillery Tour in America — USA Today 2023
Set inside a beautifully restored historic ice plant in the nation’s oldest city, St. Augustine Distillery is one of the most visited craft distilleries in America. Founded by 20 local families, every drop of bourbon they sell is made entirely in-house — no purchased spirit, no re-barreled sourced whiskey. Grains are milled and mashed on-site, fermented with proprietary yeast strains, and distilled in Vendome pot stills. Aged in full 53-gallon barrels for a minimum of three years, batched in groups of 16–40 hand-selected barrels, and never chill-filtered. Their full spirits lineup is worth exploring in full.
Florida Straight Bourbon
88 Proof · 44% ABV · Aged Minimum 3 Years · 60/22/18 Corn-Barley-Wheat
Mash bill: 60% Florida corn, 22% malted barley, 18% Florida wheat. Aged in 53-gallon new charred oak, batched from 16–40 carefully selected barrels, and never chill-filtered — preserving the mouthfeel of traditional pot distillation. Great in an Old Fashioned, and genuinely wonderful neat or over ice.
Port Finished Bourbon
102 Proof · 51% ABV · Florida Straight Bourbon Finished in San Sebastian Port Barrels
The result of a barrel exchange program with neighboring San Sebastian Winery — mature Florida Straight Bourbon finished 3–6 months in port wine barrels, bottled at 102 proof to preserve the fruit. Best enjoyed neat. Also makes an exceptional Manhattan or Vieux Carré.
Color Deep garnet red
Nose Ripe plum and cherries, salted caramel, fig, fruit leather, cast-iron cornbread
Palate Sweet entry, full and creamy — honeysuckle, black pepper, dark cherry, raisins, caramel, vanilla, coconut
The Saint Bourbon
114.4 Proof · 57.2% ABV · Barrel Strength · Limited Release
Five hand-selected barrels of their finest mature Florida bourbon, finished in barrels that previously held their Old Fashioned Mix, then bottled at barrel strength. A high-proof spirit so smooth you won’t believe the number on the label. Limited quantities per release. Best over a single large cube of ice.
Nose Toffee, winter fruit, mulled wine spice, hints of citrus
Palate Ripe cherry and chocolate, aromatic bitters, dark chocolate, caramel, and vanilla — with a gentle warmth that settles deep in the chest
Umatilla · 80-Acre Cattle Farm · Jim Murray 94.5
Quietly one of the most respected names in American craft whiskey. Run by husband-and-wife team Dick and Marti Waters from a converted 10-stall horse stable — every step of production handled by the two of them, by hand, on the farm. Jim Murray awarded their Palm Ridge Reserve a 94.5 in his Whisky Bible, calling it a “superstar whiskey that gives us all a reason to live.” Around 500 six-bottle cases a year. When you find a bottle, buy two.
Palm Ridge Reserve
90 Proof · Four-Grain Bourbon-Style · Not Chill-Filtered · Jim Murray 94.5
Corn, barley malt, rye malt, and toasted rye flakes — all Florida-grown. Aged in oak with toasted Florida orange wood chips. Not chill-filtered, preserving full presence and mouthfeel. Silver Medal, 2012 American Distilling Institute Competition.
Nose Smoky barbecue notes; big rye signature with fruit and marzipan
Palate Sweet vanilla and hazelnut giving way to leather and tobacco
Finish Long, dry, and incredibly smooth
Palm Ridge Rye
100 Proof · 70% Rye Mash Bill · Micro-Batch · 5-Gallon American Oak
Distilled in the same 60-gallon copper reflux-column still, single-pass, aged in 5-gallon American oak barrels. Smooth with wonderful spiciness and a deep finish — this rye showcases the fruity side of the grain rather than the expected heat.
Nose Astonishingly savory at first — then bright fruit opens up, reminiscent of young brandy
Palate Green fruits balanced with dry, savory grain-forward character; creamy butterscotch and cinnamon
Palm Ridge Golden
90 Proof · Wheated · Rested in Reserve Barrels
The softer side of Palm Ridge — all rye in the Reserve mash replaced with wheat, rested in Reserve barrels to retain just enough ancestral spice. Mild and easy drinking with enough backbone to confirm where it came from.
Palm Ridge Virgin
Unaged White Whiskey · Reserve Mash Bill
The Palm Ridge Reserve before barrel aging — pure grain character from the award-winning mash bill, unfiltered and unaged. A rare chance to taste the spirit before the oak gets involved.
Cape Canaveral · Space Coast · 2023 Ascot Award Winner
Founded in 2018 by two brothers on Florida’s Space Coast, Oceanside produces small-batch spirits in groups of up to six barrels from a single fermentation run — a process that builds unusual complexity into every barrel. Multiple award-winner, including a gold medal for best American spirit. Their full whiskey lineup covers bourbon, double-oaked, single barrel, rye, and flavored expressions.
Odysea Florida Bourbon
Small Batch — Up to 6 Barrels · New American Oak · 2023 Ascot Award Winner
Distilled from Florida corn in batches no larger than six barrels from a single fermentation. Layered, fruit-forward, and the flagship expression by which everything else here should be measured.
Tasting Notes Maple, cinnamon, vanilla, and ripe fruit
Double Oaked Bourbon
Double Barrel Finish · Twice-Toasted, Lightly Charred Second Cask
The Odysea Florida Bourbon given a second finish in barrels toasted twice as long but charred more lightly — amplifying and rounding the sweetness of the corn.
Tasting Notes Butterscotch, caramel, vanilla, and light chocolate with a subtle corn sweetness
Single Barrel Florida Bourbon
Single Barrel Release · Hand-Selected by the Distiller
The Odysea Florida Bourbon bottled from individual, hand-selected barrels — each a distinct expression of time, wood, and weather. Flavor varies by release, which is the whole point.
5-Year Wheated Bourbon
Minimum 5 Years · Wheated Mash Bill · Hand-Selected Barrels
Rare patience for a Florida craft distillery — a wheated bourbon aged a full five years minimum. Bold and complex. Captures what extended time in a Florida rickhouse actually does to a well-made mash.
Odysea Straight Rye Whiskey
95% Midwestern Rye · New American Oak · Private Barrel Selection
Curated from a selection of private barrels, hand-selected by the founder. The smoothness of a well-aged whiskey balanced with the zest and spice of a quality rye. Equally at home neat or in a Manhattan.
Honey Whiskey
Flavored Whiskey · Natural Honey Infusion
An aged light whiskey infused with natural honey flavor. Best enjoyed chilled, on the rocks, or as the base of a cocktail where a smooth, sweet whiskey is exactly what the drink calls for.
Santa Rosa Beach · Emerald Coast · Est. 2022
Founded in 2022 by Emerald Coast local Brian Rabon, 30A Distilling works with Stan Murphy of Murphy Farms in Jennings, Florida to source all grains for a genuinely field-to-glass bourbon. Transparent about every ingredient, committed to local sourcing, and patient enough to age the bourbon until it’s actually ready. Bottles can be purchased directly, though limited releases move quickly.
Blue Mountain Beach Bourbon
Aged Minimum 4 Years · 100% Field-to-Glass · No Additives or Coloring
Corn, malted barley, and rye sourced from Murphy Farms in Jennings, Florida. Aged a minimum of four years, blended with pure water only — no flavor additives, no coloring, no shortcuts. Great neat, on the rocks, or as the foundation of any cocktail.
Small Batch Limited Releases
Rotating Releases · Limited Quantities · Sell Out Fast
30A releases small batch expressions periodically — including a 100% molasses bourbon at 94 proof that visitors have called exceptionally smooth. Sometimes limited to a few dozen bottles. If you see one available, don’t think twice about it.
Amelia Island · Florida’s First In-House Straight Bourbon
Entering its 8th year in business at 232 S. 8th Street in historic downtown Fernandina Beach, Marlin & Barrel produces over 17 spirits and holds the distinction of releasing Florida’s first straight bourbon whiskey made entirely in-house under its own brand. Their Shoreline lineup has earned devoted fans across Northeast Florida. Single barrel releases are limited — when they’re available, they go.
Shoreline Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Cask Strength · Aged 25+ Months · New American Charred White Oak · Single Barrel
Florida’s first straight bourbon made entirely in-house under its own brand — distilled and aged on Amelia Island in new American charred white oak for a minimum of 25 months, released as individual single barrels, each picked for character.
Nose Creamy molasses, whipped cream, dark baking spices, graham cracker
Palate Traditional bourbon mash — rich, layered, and deeply satisfying
Finish Smooth and warm with lingering spice
Shoreline Four-Grain American Whiskey
Four-Grain Mash · American Whiskey · Aged In-House
The earlier expression in the Shoreline lineup — the four-grain American whiskey that laid the foundation for everything that followed. Traditional bourbon mash flavor with a smooth, structured finish rooted in Amelia Island.
Sanford · Central Florida · Florida-Raised and Distilled
Florida-raised and distilled, Loggerhead was founded in Sanford by two engineers with a passion for the art and science of distillation. A portion of every bottle sale supports non-profit partners with programs for ocean protection and cleanup. Distributed throughout Central Florida — their full spirits lineup is available for pickup online if you’re close enough to collect in person.
Loggerhead Bourbon
92 Proof · 46% ABV · Corn, Barley & Wheat · New Charred Oak · $49.99
Corn, barley, and wheat aged in new charred oak. Approachable and smooth — a well-crafted Florida bourbon that works as well in a cocktail as it does poured straight over a quiet evening.
Tasting Notes Vanilla, toffee, toasted marshmallow, and buttery caramel
Single Malt Whiskey
80 Proof · 100% Barley · New American Oak + Calvados Barrel Finish · $45
100% barley, aged in new American oak, then rested in a Calvados cask for a subtle apple brandy character that sets it apart. Buttery smooth, clean malt, no smoke, no peat — a distinctly Florida take on a classic style.
Tasting Notes Buttery malty caramel with apple brandy influence from the Calvados finish
Florida Lightning Moonshine
100 Proof · Unaged Corn Whiskey · $26.99
Crystal-clear, full-proof unaged corn whiskey with subtle sweetness and cereal grain character. Works straight or as a more interesting substitute for light whiskey in cocktails. The name earns itself.
Why Florida Whiskey Is Different
The standard knock on Florida-made whiskey has always been the same: “too young, too hot.” And yes — Florida heat accelerates barrel aging dramatically. But that’s not a flaw if you know how to work with it. The distilleries doing this right have figured out that the climate, the grains, and the blending process, when handled with intention, produce something you genuinely can’t replicate in Kentucky.
Florida 401 Black Rye doesn’t grow anywhere else. Florida summer heat pushes more oak contact into the spirit in less time than years in a temperature-controlled warehouse. And brands across this state — from Crestview to Cape Canaveral to Amelia Island — are proving that craft identity doesn’t require a Kentucky address to be legitimate, distinctive, or worth drinking.
Florida ranks in the top ten states for craft distillers, and the quality ceiling is rising fast. If you haven’t explored Florida-made whiskey brands yet, now is a very good time to start pouring.