Saint Augustine Distillery sits in a restored ice plant from the 1910s on Riberia Street, where Philip McDaniel and his team transformed Florida’s oldest city into an unlikely craft spirits destination. The founders, led by McDaniel who left his corporate career to pursue distilling, opened in 2014 after three years of navigating city permits and restoration challenges in the historic district. The 6,000-square-foot facility houses custom copper pot stills and fermentation tanks, producing bourbon, rum, gin, and vodka using Florida sugarcane and locally-sourced ingredients whenever possible. What started as a passion project has become one of Florida’s most recognized craft distilleries, with head distiller Mike Diaz overseeing production in the restored brick building that once kept the city’s ice supply cold. The team focuses on small-batch production with hands-on attention to every step, from mashing to bottling, creating spirits that reflect both traditional techniques and Florida’s unique climate and ingredients. You’ll find them experimenting with everything from rum aged in bourbon barrels to gin infused with locally-foraged botanicals, always pushing boundaries while respecting the craft.