We recently took a trip to Saint Augustine. St. Augustine is a tiny beach community about 40 minutes outside of Jacksonville, FL. It is filled to the brim with history, charm, and more restaurants and bars than you can shake a stick at.
It is also home to the Saint Augustine Distillery.
The distillery produces bourbon, rum, gin, and vodka. Almost all of the ingredients are locally sourced (from the wheat to the cane sugar) and the company’s attention to sustainability is impressive.
The building is a large warehouse-style space that sits in the heart of the downtown area. According to the tour guide, the building sat abandoned and vacant for years and was in a state of advanced decay when the current owners purchased the property. The building- a former ice house- was lovingly restored by local construction crews. The restoration won several historic preservation awards and you can see why when you visit- the space is truly functional and beautiful.
Tours of the distillery are free and happen every 30 minutes. The tours include several different tastings, fun facts, and a look at where the magic of distillation happens. The guides are knowledgeable and funny and clearly have a passion for what they do.
I had never been on a factory-style tour before and didn’t have any real expectations...this ended up being my favorite activity in St. Augustine!
Learn more about the distillery, its mission and vision, and plan your trip here: http://staugustinedistillery.com/
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