Sort of Legal

After a number of days spent largely inside my parents’ house in St. Augustine Beach, Florida, with a few breaks for exercise and going out to eat, I was getting a little antsy and with that a little edgy. 

Fortunately, I was able to shake it off yesterday with a healthy combination of exercise and spirits.  I kicked off the day with a scenic, quiet run at Guana River State Park.  After a nice shower, my parents and I headed off to the St. Augustine Distillery and the Ice Plant Bar, a place I’ve heard about from them for years but had never been to. 

We grabbed a drink at the bar then went on the free tour.  I was impressed with the efficiency of the operations and enthralled with the history of the distillery and restaurant bar, both housed under the same historic roof.  Here are a few of the reasons the distillery is one of the coolest:

1. Florida’s First Bourbon Distillery.  St. Augustine distillery was Florida’s first bourbon distillery and one of, if not the first, craft distillery in the state.
2. Ice, Ice, Baby. The distillery is housed in what was formerly Florida’s largest icehouse.  During its high points, the ice house produced 60 tons of ice per day. After the rise of modern freezer technology, the ice house closed and the building remained vacant for over 40 years.  Following three years of renovations, the distillery opened in 2014
3. They Keep it Local. St. Augustine Distillery is committed to sourcing its ingredients from its home state. The only ingredients in their spirits that come from outside of Florida are barley and juniper.
4. Tasty Tours. Hundreds of people a day take advantage of the distillery’s free tours complete with samples. The tour is efficient and engaging.
5. Reuse, Reduce, Recycle.  About 80% of the materials used in the distillery are reclaimed.  The decor is a nod to early 1900s with features like high pull chain toilet from Crapper & Co. in the restrooms.
6. Mix it Up.  St. Augustine Distillery makes and sells their own mixers so you can recreate their delicious cocktails like the Rum Tiki, Florida Mule, and Old Fashioned at home.
7. Community Centered. The distillery is owned by over 25 families from the local community and is committed to giving back to the area.  It recently donated over $65,000 and hundreds of hours of volunteer hours to build a house through Habitat for Humanity.
8. Award Winning Spirits.  In its relatively short life, the St. Augustine Distillery has already racked up some impressive awards and acknowledgments including a Spirit International Prestige best of class award for its Port Finished Burbon and a nod from Esquire magazine who called it one of the best whiskey distilleries in the country.
9. Commitment to Craft.  The spirits are truly handcrafted.  Individuals check the progress of their spirits by pulling tastes during the fermentation process and about 1,200 bottles per day are filled and sealed by hand.
10. Eat, Drink, & Be Merry.  A section of the former ice house is a dedicated craft cocktail bar and restaurant aptly named The Ice Plant Bar.  The Ice House maintains the vintage, 1920s vibe while serving up unique and classic cocktails with spirits from St. Augustine Distillery as well as other tasty liquor producers.

PLAN YOUR VISIT:

St. Augustine Distillery
112 Riberia Street
St. Augustine, FL 32084 (904) 825-4962
www.staugustinedistillery.com
Instagram: @staugustinedistillery
Facebook: StAugustineDistilleryCompany

Ice Plant Bar
110 Riberia Street
St. Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 829-6553
www.iceplantbar.com
Instagram: @iceplantbar
Facebook: IcePlantBar

PHOTOS:

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