Even though my husband was born and raised in St. Augustine, we still make it a point to “play tourist” at least once a month and take advantage of the food, entertainment and attractions visitors travel so far to enjoy. The Nation’s Oldest City is home to dozens of tours, but only a handful of them are free.
I recently took the free tour at St. Augustine Distillery, 112 Riberia Street on a Thursday morning with three other guests. We were led by Lisa, an energetic guide who told us the 1905 building housed Florida’s first ice plant in 1917. When refrigerators replaced iceboxes in the 1950s, most ice plants closed. Local fishermen still needed ice, so the local plant was one of the last to close in 1959. For the next 40 years or so the building remained empty and was in a general state of disrepair. After extensive renovations, the Distillery opened in 2014.
We followed Lisa to a room with huge, copper stills, where she explained the distilling process. All of the ingredients used in production are from Northeast Florida except two ― barley from Minnesota because it won’t grow in Florida and juniper berries, for the gin, from Macedonia. Next, we passed the packaging room where employees label and pack as many as 1,200 bottles a day, without automated equipment.
The next stop featured a display of aging barrels. To be labeled “bourbon,” the whiskey must be made in America, aged in a first-time-use barrel and at least 51% corn. What comes out of the copper pot stills is clear and only becomes bourbon after aging. The Distillery uses white oak, charred barrels from Kelvin Cooperage to age the spirits, which over the course of about three years results in 100% of the deep caramel color and about 60% of the taste. The vanilla, cocoa and nutty notes all come from the barrel.
Since the barrel can only be used once for bourbon, many are sent to neighboring San Sebastian Winery to age their port. After that, the barrels come back to the Distillery to be used for their Port Bourbon. Finally, the Distillery holds its signature Old Fashioned Mix in the barrel before using it to produce its premier, barrel-finished bourbon ― The Saint.
It is said that “the proof in the pudding is in the tasting,” so we did. Lisa moved behind a bar to serve three cocktails featuring vodka, rum and gin. She said even visitors who claim they don’t like gin can appreciate the Distillery’s product.
“The gin is our most-awarded spirit,” she said. “We use fewer juniper berries and, instead of grinding them into a paste, we leave them whole to push the pine flavor to the back. This lets the citrus and spices come to the front.”
Personally, I have never been a fan of gin, but I agreed with Lisa. I tasted lemon and tangerine before picking up on the juniper. When added to the Grapefruit Hibiscus Mixer and seltzer water, the gin didn’t have the overpowering pine flavor of a popular national brand. I may revisit the julep on Derby Day.
Fellow tasters and I agreed that the Florida Mule Mix and vodka was dangerous because it’s so refreshing, and you can hardly taste the alcohol. There’s no muddling required, but a sprig of fresh mint adds to the flavor and presentation.
When paired with rum, the Tropical Tiki Mix results in a tropical, beachy libation perfect for our coastal lifestyle. There’s a hint of coconut, but it doesn’t scream coconut like other mixes that use artificial flavors and colors. The Distillery’s non-alcoholic mixers contain all-natural ingredients.
Upstairs in the gift shop, a mixologist added bourbon to the Old Fashioned Mixer, so we could taste a sample. Since I’m a fan of bourbon, the Old Fashioned was my favorite. We also tasted the barrel finished Port Bourbon, rum and The Saint bourbon.
Tours fill up later in the day and it’s even busier on the weekends. General Manager Matt Stevens said Saturday is the busiest day. About 155,000 people tour the Distillery each year.
The Distillery offers gift certificates and you might recommend the lucky recipient take a tour to sample the spirits and choose a favorite. For information, visit staugustinedistillery.com or call (904) 825-4962.
