Copper Bottom Craft Distillery sits on North Beach Street in Holly Hill, a small Florida town just outside Daytona Beach. Founded by husband-and-wife team Mike and Michelle Rasmussen in 2017, this small-batch operation grew from Mike’s decade-long hobby of perfecting recipes in his garage. The couple converted a former auto repair shop into their production facility and tasting room, keeping the industrial feel with exposed beams and concrete floors while adding copper accents throughout. They focus on American whiskeys, particularly bourbon and rye, along with vodka and seasonal spirits. Mike brings an engineering background to distilling, designing custom equipment and obsessing over precise temperature controls during fermentation. Michelle handles the business side and cocktail program, drawing from her bartending experience to create drinks that showcase their spirits. The transition from hobby to commercial operation took three years of navigating Florida’s complex distilling regulations and convincing the city council that a distillery would benefit the quiet residential area. They started with a 250-gallon copper still and have gradually expanded production while maintaining their hands-on approach to every batch. Visitors find an intimate setting where you’re likely to meet Mike or Michelle during your visit. The tasting room feels more like a neighborhood bar than a tourist destination, with regulars mixing with curious visitors. You can watch the production process through large windows separating the tasting area from the distillery floor. They’ve built a loyal local following while slowly gaining recognition in Florida’s growing craft spirits scene. The scale remains deliberately small – they produce about 1,000 cases annually, allowing them to experiment with different mash bills and aging techniques.