Gamblers Bay Distillery sits in an industrial park on Johns Road in northwest Tampa, founded by Chad Ralston and Michael Caruso in 2021. These two friends turned their shared passion for craft spirits into a full-scale operation after years of home distilling experiments. The distillery occupies a converted warehouse space where they’ve installed custom copper stills and created a welcoming tasting room that feels more like hanging out in someone’s garage than a polished commercial space. They focus on small-batch bourbon, rum, and vodka, with plans to expand their whiskey offerings as their barrels age. Ralston brings a background in mechanical engineering while Caruso handled the business side, and together they spent nearly three years navigating Florida’s licensing requirements before opening their doors. They’re hands-on owners who you’ll likely meet during your visit, eager to talk about their grain-to-glass process and the challenges of starting a distillery in Florida’s climate. The operation runs lean with just the two founders and a small team, giving it an intimate feel where every bottle gets personal attention. Visitors get an up-close look at the entire operation, from milling grain to bottling spirits. The atmosphere is relaxed and educational rather than flashy, with concrete floors, exposed beams, and the constant hum of fermentation tanks. You’re not just tasting spirits here—you’re getting a behind-the-scenes look at two guys living their dream and making it work one batch at a time.