1st Blood

1ST BLOOD, Small-Batch Bourbon

1ST BLOOD is the bourbon Firesides Distillery built for the toast that matters. In fact, that toast happens around a fire, between people who earned the right to tell the story. It’s a small-batch, Florida-made bourbon, and it leads with the brand’s promise: a story told with every sip. Firesides bottles it at 45% ABV, or 90 proof. As a result, it stays approachable enough to welcome a newcomer, yet balanced enough to reward a seasoned drinker. In the distillery’s own words, this is premium bourbon that ignites camaraderie. In other words, you open this bottle and pass it around. You don’t leave it on a shelf.

A Story Told With Every Sip

Firesides Distillery is a veteran-owned, small-batch operation on Florida’s Emerald Coast. Also, former special-operations aviators founded it. Both the name and the spirit trace back to a tradition the founders watched fade. For years, aircrews held Friday-afternoon “fini” meetings. There, they would swap combat stories, trade hard-won lessons, and raise a glass together. Those gatherings mattered. After all, that’s where the real learning happened. That’s also where experienced crews passed knowledge to the next generation. Plus, the friendships they forged there often outlasted any single mission.

So Firesides set out to bring that ritual back. As a result, the distillery’s aviation-inspired bourbon gives pilots, gunners, and ground crews a reason to circle up again. They can share what they’ve lived through, mentor the people behind them, and keep the tradition alive. 1ST BLOOD sits right at the center of that idea. It isn’t a bottle to hoard. Instead, you open it, pour it, and pass it around a table where people tell the best stories. That’s the spirit behind “IYKYK”, if you know, you know.

Quality Over Quantity, Made in Florida

Firesides lives by a simple rule: quality over quantity. Meanwhile, that principle shows up in every decision, and it starts with the grain. First, the team mills only Florida-grown grain. Then they cut every drop with pure Florida water. Because of that local sourcing, the distillery earned its Florida Fresh certification. As a result, the bourbon carries a genuine sense of place.

The hands-on approach doesn’t stop at sourcing. Overall, from blending and bottling to corking, labeling, and boxing, at least one founder touches every bottle. That kind of personal accountability rarely survives at scale. So Firesides stays small on purpose. Moreover, the team pairs military precision with artisanal technique. They treat each small batch as something to get right, not just something to ship. For 1ST BLOOD, that means real craftsmanship from the first nose to the last sip.

Tasting Notes

On the nose, 1ST BLOOD opens with vanilla bean and soft caramel. Because of that, that sweet, welcoming aroma sets the tone before the first taste. Then the palate arrives silky and smooth. It carries restrained oak alongside a touch of baking spice. Midway through the sip, a quick burst of black pepper lifts the whole thing. Just as fast, it fades. Finally, the pepper eases into toasted oak and a thread of honey. The finish closes smooth, warm, and satisfying. In short, it’s a pour with real movement: sweet, then spiced, then mellow. Because it holds that balance, you’ll want to keep coming back.

At a Glance

Part of the Firesides Lineup

1ST BLOOD anchors a growing small-batch range. So, alongside it, Firesides pours BIG DADDY. This one runs bigger and bolder, and the distillery bottles it at 50% ABV, or 100 proof. It opens with vanilla, caramel, and baking spice. Then it gives way to smooth, balanced oak that lingers on the finish. Meanwhile, a third release is on the way, with more still to come. So anyone who discovers the brand through 1ST BLOOD gets a natural first step into the rest of the lineup.

A Bourbon Worth Gathering Around

What ties 1ST BLOOD together isn’t just the liquid. Even so, it’s the intent behind it. Firesides didn’t build this bourbon for a trophy case. Instead, they built it for the people who matter. So you reach for it when those people fill the room. You pour it when there’s a story to tell, a milestone to mark, or a hard week to leave behind. At 90 proof, it means something. Yet it stays smooth enough to keep the conversation going. That’s the whole point.

This through-line runs straight from the founders’ fini-flight roots to the glass in front of you. In fact, every choice points back to one goal. They keep batches small. They grow the grain in Florida. They put a founder’s hands on every bottle. As a result, they make a bourbon worth gathering around. 1ST BLOOD captures that goal best. Honestly, it’s the easiest way to understand Firesides Distillery. So pour it, pass it, and let the story tell itself. IYKYK.

So, want to taste 1ST BLOOD in person? Join us for tours and tastings at the distillery in Crestview. And if you are building a brand of your own, explore our private label program, ask about hosting private events on the farm, or book our hands-on bourbon blending experience. Also, if you are curious about the craft behind the bottle, read more about Timber Creek’s grain-to-glass process.