Florida Vodka

Florida Vodka is a wheat vodka made from 100% north Florida Red Soft Winter Wheat — distilled a minimum of four times through a copper pot still, charcoal filtered, and rested for at least six months before bottling. It is the only Florida vodka to win a Gold Medal for Best Domestic Vodka at The Fifty Best. The wheat base and the production method give it a clean, precise character that reflects its grain origin without sacrificing the smoothness that defines quality vodka.

What Is Wheat Vodka?

Wheat vodka is vodka made from wheat as the primary grain rather than corn, rye, potatoes, or other base materials. The grain choice shapes the finished spirit’s texture and character in ways that survive even high-proof distillation. Wheat produces a cleaner, more precise vodka than corn — less rounded sweetness, more defined structure, and a finish that stays dry and crisp rather than fading into soft warmth. That character makes wheat vodka particularly well suited to spirit-forward applications where the vodka needs to hold its own rather than disappear.

Most mass-market vodkas use corn because it is inexpensive, efficient, and produces high alcohol yields. Wheat requires more careful handling — it contains less starch than corn and produces a thinner mash that demands precise fermentation control. However, the result justifies the additional effort. Wheat vodka consistently produces a different sensory experience than corn vodka, which is why the category commands a premium across the global vodka market.

North Florida Red Soft Winter Wheat

Florida Vodka is made from a specific wheat variety: North Florida Red Soft Winter Wheat. This is not a generic commodity grain sourced from the Midwest. Red Soft Winter Wheat is grown during Florida’s cooler season — planted in fall, harvested in spring — in the sandy soils and mild climate of north Florida and the Panhandle. The grain has different protein content and starch structure than the Hard Red Winter Wheat varieties grown in Kansas and Oklahoma that dominate American grain production.

Soft wheat varieties contain lower protein content than hard wheat. Lower protein means less gluten, which affects how the mash ferments and how the resulting spirit feels on the palate. Soft wheat typically produces a smoother, less sharp distillate than hard wheat. Additionally, the specific terroir of north Florida’s sandy soil and the grain’s winter growing cycle contribute subtle characteristics that distinguish locally sourced wheat from commodity alternatives.

Growing wheat in north Florida also means the grain source is within miles of the distillery in Crestview rather than trucked in from the Great Plains. That proximity is part of what makes Florida Vodka a genuinely grain-to-glass product rather than a marketing claim.

The Production Process

Mashing in the Lauter Tun

We crack the wheat open and gently cook it to release the grain’s natural sugars. After mashing, we transfer the liquid to a lauter tun — a vessel that separates the fermentable wort from the spent grain husks before fermentation begins. That separation produces a cleaner, more precise fermentation than mashing-on-grain would. Fewer solid particles in the fermentation means fewer unwanted compounds that would need to be removed during distillation. The result is a cleaner base spirit before distillation even starts.

Four-Times Distilled in Copper

Florida Vodka is distilled a minimum of four times through a copper pot still. Each distillation pass refines the spirit further, removing more unwanted congeners while concentrating the clean wheat character. Copper reacts with sulfur compounds in the distillate and removes them — which is why copper stills produce a cleaner, brighter distillate than stainless steel. Running the spirit through four times is more labor-intensive than a single column still distillation, but each pass targets a more refined distillate. The result is a vodka with genuine smoothness built into the distillation process rather than achieved through aggressive filtration afterward.

Natural Charcoal Filtration

After distillation, Florida Vodka passes through a natural charcoal filter. Charcoal filtration removes remaining trace congeners and smooths the spirit’s texture without stripping it entirely. We use natural charcoal rather than synthetic filtration media, which maintains the integrity of the grain-derived character while polishing the finish. The goal is refinement, not neutralization.

Six-Month Minimum Rest

Before bottling, Florida Vodka rests for a minimum of six months. Most commercial vodkas go from still to bottle in days or weeks. The extended rest allows the spirit to integrate and settle — sharp edges from distillation soften, the wheat character deepens, and the overall profile coheres. This rest period is one of the production details that separates genuine craft vodka from industrial-scale production and one reason the spirit performs differently than commodity vodkas at the same price point.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Clean, soft grain aroma with subtle wheat sweetness. The nose is restrained rather than assertive — this is not a vodka that announces itself aggressively. A light mineral note from the Florida limestone spring water adds a subtle background quality. There is no harsh solvent character, no sharp alcohol bite, and no artificial sweetness from corn-based production.

Palate

The entry is smooth and dry, with a soft wheat grain character carrying through the mid-palate. Slightly silkier than corn-based vodkas, the texture reflects wheat character that persists even after four distillation passes. Charcoal filtration and six-month rest contribute a clean, integrated quality where the spirit feels fully resolved rather than raw. At standard proof, the alcohol is present but gentle, sitting behind the grain character rather than in front of it.

Finish

Clean and dry with a light warmth. The finish reflects the wheat base — precise and neutral at the surface but with a subtle grain impression that lingers briefly. It does not end in sweetness or heat, which makes it an excellent base for cocktails that need a clean spirit without intrusion and equally suited to chilled shots where the vodka’s own character is the point.

Overall Character

Florida Vodka is a clean, precise wheat vodka that carries genuine grain character without sacrificing smoothness. Gold Medal at The Fifty Best for Best Domestic Vodka — the only Florida vodka to reach that recognition level. For more on how vodka styles differ by grain base, see our guide to vodka.

Wheat Vodka vs. Corn Vodka — The Real Difference

The grain base is the single most important variable in vodka character, because it determines the fermentation profile before distillation begins and leaves trace sensory impressions that survive even high-proof distillation.

Corn vodka produces a rounder, slightly sweeter character. Corn’s high starch content yields efficient fermentation and a soft, approachable distillate. Most American-made vodkas use corn for this reason — it is cost-efficient and produces a smooth, neutral spirit that works well in cocktails. However, corn vodka has a recognizable softness that some drinkers find one-dimensional over time.

Wheat vodka produces a drier, more precise character. The lower-starch, lower-protein profile of soft wheat yields a cleaner fermentation and a crisper distillate. Wheat vodka’s finish is more defined and less sweet than corn, which makes it more versatile in cocktail applications where the vodka needs to add structure rather than just volume.

At Timber Creek, the geographic vodkas — 30A Vodka, Destin Vodka, Panama City Beach Vodka, and Pensacola Vodka — are corn-based. Florida Vodka is wheat-based. Tasting them side by side at the distillery demonstrates exactly how much the grain choice matters.

Awards & Recognition

[AWARDS — Aaron to insert award badges and text here]

It earned Gold Medal at The Fifty Best for Best Domestic Vodka — the only Florida vodka to win at that level. For the full award history across all Timber Creek expressions, see the Awards page.

Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Vodka

What is this vodka made from?

This vodka is made from 100% North Florida Red Soft Winter Wheat grown locally near the distillery in Crestview. The wheat is cracked, cooked, mashed in a lauter tun, fermented, distilled a minimum of four times through a copper pot still, charcoal filtered, and rested at least six months before bottling. No corn, no additives, no artificial flavoring.

Is Florida Vodka a wheat vodka?

Yes. Florida Vodka is made entirely from wheat — specifically North Florida Red Soft Winter Wheat. This distinguishes it from the corn-based geographic vodkas in the Timber Creek lineup (30A, Destin, Panama City Beach, and Pensacola). Wheat produces a cleaner, drier, more precise character than corn, which is why wheat vodka is associated with a distinct sensory profile rather than just a different label.

How many times is it distilled?

A minimum of four times through a copper pot still. Each pass through the still removes more unwanted congeners while concentrating the clean wheat character. Four-times distillation is more labor-intensive than single-pass column distillation, but it produces a fundamentally smoother and more refined spirit. The copper still construction also removes sulfur compounds during each pass.

Why does it rest for six months?

The six-month rest allows the spirit to fully integrate and settle before bottling. Immediately after distillation, vodka has a sharper, rawer character — edges that need time to smooth. The extended rest softens those edges, deepens the wheat character, and produces a more cohesive final spirit. Most commercial vodkas skip this step entirely because it adds production time and cost. The rest is one of the reasons It tastes different from commodity options at the same price point.

What award did this vodka win?

Gold Medal at The Fifty Best for Best Domestic Vodka — the only Florida vodka to win at that level. The Fifty Best conducts blind tastings with panels of industry professionals and consumers. Winning Best Domestic Vodka means Florida Vodka outperformed other American-made vodkas in a blind evaluation context.

How does it compare to the 30A / Destin / Pensacola vodkas?

The geographic vodkas are corn-based. Florida Vodka is wheat-based. Corn produces a rounder, slightly softer and sweeter character. Wheat produces a drier, more precise, crisper finish. Both are made at the same distillery with the same commitment to Florida-grown grains and Florida limestone spring water. The difference is entirely in the grain choice and what that choice produces in the still and the glass.

What cocktails work best with wheat vodka?

Wheat vodka works across all standard vodka cocktail applications. Its dry, precise character makes it particularly well-suited for spirit-forward drinks — a Vodka Martini benefits from wheat vodka’s structure, a Moscow Mule is sharper and more defined than with corn vodka, and a Gimlet stays bright and clean. Because the finish is dry rather than sweet, it blends cleanly into citrus applications without adding competing sweetness.

Can I taste it at the distillery?

Yes. It is available at Timber Creek Distillery in Crestview, Florida. During a Distillery Tour and Tasting, you can compare Florida Vodka against the corn-based geographic vodkas to experience the wheat versus corn difference directly. The side-by-side is one of the most instructive comparative tastings available at the distillery.

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Farm-to-Bottle PureBlend® Process

At Timber Creek, we take a natural, sustainable approach to crafting our spirits through our proprietary PureBlend® process. This method carefully brings out the rich, authentic flavors of each grain and ingredient, honoring its natural character. For vodka, that means preserving what the wheat contributes rather than distilling it into irrelevance.

For more on how vodka production works from grain to bottle, see our guide to vodka and our grain-to-glass distillation guide.

Download the Florida Vodka Spec Sheet (PDF)

Explore the Vodka Lineup

• 30A Vodka — Corn-based, positioned for the South Walton coast
• Destin Vodka — Corn-based, positioned for the Destin market
• Panama City Beach Vodka — Corn-based, positioned for the PCB market
• Pensacola Vodka — Corn-based, positioned for the Pensacola market
• Florida Gin — Built on the same wheat base, with Florida botanicals
• What Is Vodka? A Guide to How Vodka Is Made

Spec Sheet