FLORIDA SPIRITS : What tasty libations do they make?

Table of Contents:
THE 1700s.
PROHIBIT WHAT?
1933 – TODAY
SUMMERY

Wines of Florida, Taste Florida, Florida Beers.

Sugarcane grows just about anywhere in the Caribbean making it very profitable but not a Florida spirit. — Yooo-hoo hoo a barrel of Caribbean rum.

Firewater.

Before the Spanish, Native Americans were living in the area of Florida. Although they did not run breweries and distilleries, they did have Florida Spirits. These were for ceremonies only, and often only for the elder and medicine man.

With the Spanish came bottles of firewater. Then the French bring firewater. Guess what the British bring?

The history of Florida Spirits dates to the 1600s, and initially, it is an import. Coming from the Caribbean are barrels of rum, pouring onto the docks of the Spanish outposts.

When the British begin setting up plantations in Northern Florida, most of them are to grow tobacco.

Tobacco was the cash crop in America in those days, Florida spirit were a long way off.. — The British grow tobacco, so they do not have to buy it from the Spanish.

Cotton is also a significant cash crop along the Georgia border, but the soil is not great for sugar cane.

Besides, the British have enough islands in the Caribbean, producing more than enough rum.

There is good soil for sugar cane near Lake Okeechobee, but the plantation owners never come that far south.

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Florida Spirits and the Brits.

By the 1700s, the Brits export sugar cane, rum, and molasses to the North American colonies and territories.

Circa 1750, they substantially raise the taxes on these products. This tax hits the east coast of America extra hard as there are over 1000 distilleries in operation.

Some of these have to be in Florida, but there is no written history of them.

Louisiana, who does have sugar plantations, can fill part of the gap. However, many colonies begin distilling other spirits. They use ingredients they do not have to import.

Towns along the coast received goods from everywhere. With cheap rum from the Caribbean, there is no need for Florida spirits. — Barrels on the dock.

There are various forms of beer for local consumption in and around Florida, certainly in the British settlements.

Florida can raise barley, oats, rye, and wheat. But there are no records of whiskey distillation in Florida.

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Prohibition

In 1920, America starts prohibition. Finally, there are records of distilleries in Florida. These documents are those of the police, and the distilleries are out in the wilderness and marshlands of Florida.

During prohibition, central and southern Florida does not follow the rules well.

The term “Rumrunner” applies to the many boats importing rum and other liquors from the Bahamas and Cuba, illegally.

Miami and Tampa are two of the wettest towns during prohibition.

Moonshiners are keeping up with the rumrunners.

The city is floating on more booze than water. — Tampa and Al Capone’s Miami are overflowing with booze during prohibition.

The responsibility of upholding prohibition fell to federal dry agents of the U.S. Customs department. There are not nearly enough of them to cover over 1000 miles of coastline.

Florida is one of the top alcohol distribution centers in the nation. Even with the few raids where they confiscate more than 1000 cases, it does not affect the flow.

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Florida Spirits 1933 – 1994

Prohibition in Florida ends with about as much change as it began, little.

New bars open, joining the ones still open.

And still, no distilleries are opening up. Part of this is due to archaic prohibition-era regulations that allow you to produce alcohol but almost impossible to sell.

The bad news is that many of them are still in place today. (2020.)

1943

The first distillery to register with the state of Florida is Florida Fruit Distillers. Opening in 1943, they take local produce from Florida Citrus producers and make neutral spirits. The timing is right as all the grain alcohol is going to the war effort. They sell neutral spirits to other companies as an ingredient, helping them circumnavigate the restrictive distribution laws.

Today, the company goes by Florida Caribbean Distributors. In addition to citrus neutral spirits, beer, and wine ingredients, they can finally produce and sell whole products. Specializing in rum, they also produce vodka, whiskey, and liqueurs.

There is not much competition.

An investment banker starts a distillery in Ybor City circa 2004, but it seems more hobby than industry-leading. He will sell out in 2013.

Use as many senses as you can to really experience something. — Taste, smell, feel.

2010

A few try their hand at micro (craft) distilling, but they are few and far between.

Flagler Spirits in St Augustine starts up as the owners want better ingredients in the liquor they drink. They sell their pure alcohol to wholesalers who add other flavors and bottle the liquor under various brand names. Florida state law does not allow distillers to sell retail. They will grow in sales until 2016 under that name.
Winter Park Distilling opens the same year near Orlando, selling alcohol to wholesalers until 2013. They now make vodka, rum, and bourbon.
Florida Farm Distillers in Umatilla begins playing around with traditional recipes for American whiskey in 2004. They go through two years of government hoop-jumping to secure all the necessary federal, state, and local permits. These, along with the equipment for a small production distillery, runs around $100,000 back then. Licenses renew yearly, and there is a tax of $4.00 per .750ml bottle. The state does not make it a tempting business. Their award-winning Palm Ridge Reserve is still only available through wholesalers. Tours by appointment.

2011

St Augustine Distillery starts as a dream circa 2008. After talking to experts, the owners still restore a 1907 ice plant for their distillery. In other states, distilleries are opening and succeeding. Maybe Florida politicians will come around. By opening, they have been able to get state law to change enough to sell cocktails next door. Today they make vodka, gin, and rum. Their barrel-aged bourbon is a must-try.

Who remembers metal ice trays with the pull up handle and wet fingers sticking to it? — Before ice in the refrigerator door, you went to the ice house. St Augustine Distillery.

Florida Spirits 2012

Citrus Distillers in Riviera Beach is strictly a wholesale distiller selling spirits individually or as a brand.
Cotherman Distilling in Dunedin begins making wholesale distilled spirits. They now have their lines of vodka, gin, and single-malt whiskey. Tours when open.
Fish Hawk Spirits in Ocala produces their own Sui Generis whiskey, Island Grove vodka, and Resurgence rum. They are only available in restaurants and liquor stores. Click the link for a list of locations.
Florida Cane Distillery in Ybor City is best known for its cane vodka, but they also carry gin, rum, bourbon, and moonshine. Tours available. Click the orange link for a list of locations.
James’ two Brothers Distillery in Ocala specializes in single batch rums, whiskeys, and bourbon. Tours available 2nd Saturday of the month. Click the orange link for a list of locations.
Key West First Legal Rum Distillery in Key West does one thing and does it well. Click the orange link for a list of locations.
Miami Club Rum in Miami specializes in rum. Tours by appointment. Click the orange link for a list of locations.
Njoy Spirits in Weeki Wachee specializes in Wild Buck rye whiskey, Mermaid rum, and ryes in (moon)Shine. Click the orange link for a list of locations.
Peaden Brothers Distillery in Crestview specializes in rum and whiskey. Click the orange link for a list of locations.
Rollins Distillery in Gulf Breeze specializes in Esprit de Krewe vodka and rums.
Wicked Dolphin Rum Distillery in Cape Coral specializes in rum. Tours with reservations. Click the orange link for a list of locations.

2013

The Florida legislature passes a bill easing some of the restrictions on distillers producing 75,000 or fewer gallons per year. The primary “win” is microdistilleries that can sell directly to consumers at their sites with restrictions.

That is when several of the distilleries above begin producing their brands.

Distilleries take off in Florida. Since 2013 more than 40 distilleries, too many to list here, are now producing. And the number is growing.

A good bartender or liquor store can help lead you to the Florida brands.

Or Google distilleries in ____, the town you are visiting.

Florida Spirits 2019

An additional bill about distillers comes up with the Florida legislature. This bill will further reduce limitations on the amount of liquor they can make and sell to retail guests.

Craft distilleries would benefit. Local economies would benefit in additional sales taxes and more jobs. Oh yes, how about the consumer as well?

Clear, golden and dark rum hold different levels of molasses. — Taste the flavors of natural rum.

As of the summer of 2020, the politicians are still tossing it around. I wonder why? They get tax from the distillery, tax from the distributor, and then tax from the retail seller. Do they really need to tax the same liquor three times?

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Florida Spirits Summary

Florida only has one cocktail that it can call its own.

The rum runner dates from the 1950s and the Tiki Bar at Holiday Isle in Islamorada. It was probably a “house” special to get rid of too many bottles of banana and blackberry liqueurs and grenadine.

It was a hit.