St. Augustine Distillery Company

What St. Augustine Distillery Company does

St. Augustine Distillery Company is a privately held craft distillery headquartered and operating from a single production facility at 112 Riberia Street in St. Augustine, Florida, housed in the restored 1917 FPL Ice Plant. Founded by 20 local families in 2013 and opened to the public in March 2014, the company produces a portfolio of handcrafted spirits — Florida Straight Bourbon, Port Finished Bourbon, The Saint Bourbon, New World Gin, Florida Cane Vodka, and Pot Distilled Rum — using pot-still distillation with on-site grain milling, mashing, and fermentation. Its technical differentiation centers on Florida maritime-climate aging and an innovative barrel-finishing program that includes a continuous barrel exchange with San Sebastian Winery, custom Kelvin Cooperage barrels, and a luxury "Explorer Collection" of cask-finished bourbons using ex-cognac, ex-curaçao, ex-sherry, ex-armagnac, and ex-amburana casks.

The business operates a hybrid direct-to-consumer and wholesale model. DTC revenue is generated through on-site retail at the distillery (7 days/week), free self-guided tours that include tastings, paid guided tasting experiences, and the Fill Your Own Bottle cask-strength bourbon offering. Wholesale revenue flows through a statewide Florida retail partner network, the company's own e-commerce site (which is constrained by Florida's direct-shipping prohibition), and an online retailer (Seelbachs) covering select U.S. states. Adjacent revenue streams include branded cocktail mixers (Old Fashioned Mix, Florida Mule Mix, Grapefruit Hibiscus, Tropical Tiki, Essential Tonic) and recurring limited-release drops that double as customer acquisition tools for the visitor experience.

The company's primary customer segments are tourists and visitors to historic St. Augustine seeking an educational Florida-themed experience, craft-spirits enthusiasts and bourbon collectors pursuing distinctive small-batch and cask-finished expressions, and the local Florida community that supports its community-reinvestment mission. The distillery is self-described as the "most visited craft distillery in America" and its tour is recognized as the "#1 Whiskey Tour in North America"; its New World Gin was voted USA Today's #1 Craft Gin in 2017. The company has remained independent and self-funded by the founding 20 families, with no disclosed venture or institutional capital, and is led by Co-Founders Philip McDaniel and Mike Diaz with William Hensler serving as Chief Executive Officer.

Name

St. Augustine Distillery Company

Legal name

St. Augustine Distillery

Website

https://staugustinedistillery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

St. Augustine Distillery Company is a privately held craft distillery in St. Augustine, Florida that produces and retails bourbon, rum, gin, vodka, and cocktail mixers via on-site retail, tours, limited Florida wholesale distribution, and select-state online sales to tourists, collectors, and local consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Distilled Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (31214), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF), Liquor Stores (Off-Premise Spirits Retail) (CRANABAA)

Keywords

• Craft distillery spirits
• Handcrafted bourbon whiskey
• Cocktail mixers
• Distillery tours tastings
• Barrel finished bourbon

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Augustine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Spirits Sales: Direct sales of handcrafted spirits including bourbon, rum, gin, and vodka through on-site retail, online store, and statewide retail partners. Products include flagship spirits and limited releases.
2. Distillery Tours: Self-guided tours are free; guided premium experiences are available for booking. Tours include spirit tastings and cocktail education.
3. Mixers and Accessories: Sales of cocktail mixers (Old Fashioned Mix, Florida Mule Mix, Grapefruit Hibiscus, Tropical Tiki, Essential Tonic), bourbon barrel-aged honey, maple syrup, and related accessories.
4. Fill Your Own Bottle Experience: Premium experience allowing customers to fill and personalize bottles of cask-strength bourbon directly from the barrel.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

St. Augustine Distillery is a craft distillery that produces, ages, bottles, and retails handcrafted spirits (bourbon, rum, gin, and vodka) using grains milled, mashed, fermented, and distilled on-site. In addition to spirit sales, it operates a free self-guided tour with tastings, paid guided tasting experiences, and a hands-on Fill Your Own Bottle program, complemented by a line of branded cocktail mixers and accessories.

Product overview

St. Augustine Distillery is a craft distillery producing a portfolio of spirits under the 'Spirit of Florida' brand. The core product line includes six main spirits: Florida Straight Bourbon (flagship bourbon aged minimum 3 years), Port Finished Bourbon (finished in port wine barrels), The Saint Bourbon (barrel-strength premium expression), New World Gin (award-winning gin with 12 botanicals), Florida Cane Vodka (first spirit sold in 2014), and Pot Distilled Rum (aged in own bourbon barrels). Supporting the core spirits are five cocktail mixers (Old Fashioned Mix, Florida Mule Mix, Grapefruit Hibiscus Mix, Tropical Tiki Mix, Essential Tonic) designed for at-home cocktail preparation. The distillery also releases numerous limited expressions including Explorer Collection cask-finished bourbons (Cognac, Curacao, Apera Sherry, Armagnac, Amburana), Distiller's Select single barrels, specialty rums (Stone's Throw Rum, Reserve Rum, D. Rodriguez & Sons Overproof Rum), and limited gins (Port Finished Gin, Barrel Aged Gin). Visitor experiences include self-guided tours, guided tasting experiences, and the Fill Your Own Bottle personal bottle-filling program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Florida Straight Bourbon Flagship bourbon made from 60% corn, 22% barley, and 18% wheat mash bill, aged minimum 3 years in 53-gallon charred American oak barrels, bottled at 44% ABV/88 Proof with notes of toffee, cinnamon marshmallow, leather, and vanilla. Targeted at craft bourbon enthusiasts and tourists.
• Port Finished Bourbon Florida Straight Bourbon finished in Port Wine Barrels from San Sebastian Winery, bottled at 51% ABV/102 Proof with fruit-forward notes of ripe plum, cherries, and caramel. Produced through the barrel exchange partnership for craft spirits enthusiasts.
• The Saint Bourbon Barrel-strength bourbon at 114.4 proof (57.2% ABV) made by selecting five barrels of mature Florida bourbon and finishing them in barrels that held the distillery's Old Fashioned Mix. Unfiltered and targeted at premium bourbon enthusiasts.
• New World Gin Award-winning (USA Today #1 Craft Gin, 2017) gin distilled from Florida sugar cane with 12 botanicals including juniper, coriander, angelica root, citrus peels, star anise, and cinnamon. Available in 750ml and 1L.
• Florida Cane Vodka Vodka distilled from 100% Florida-grown sugar cane using pot still distillation with careful head and tail cuts; lightly filtered to preserve cane character. Available in 750ml and 1L; the first spirit sold when the distillery opened.
• Pot Distilled Rum Pot-distilled rum made from select Florida Grade A US Fancy Molasses, aged in barrels that previously held the distillery's own bourbon. A versatile cocktail spirit available in 750ml and 1L.
• Stone's Throw Rum Port-finished rum aged in San Sebastian Winery port barrels that originally held Florida Straight Bourbon. Named for the proximity of the two businesses, with fruit-forward notes of brown sugar, plum, and cherry.
• D. Rodriguez & Sons Overproof Rum Overproof rum (63% ABV / 126 Proof) named for 'Day One' Danny Rodriguez, the first hire at the distillery. Features notes of overripe bananas, tropical fruits, and burnt sugars; the label features five blue stars representing Honduras.
• Reserve Rum Limited release and crown jewel of the rum collection: a marriage of three distinct rums derived from Florida molasses and aged in casks that previously held cognac and Madagascar vanilla beans.
• Explorer Collection (Cognac, Curacao, Apera Sherry, Armagnac, Amburana Cask-Finished Bourbons) Series of luxury-finished bourbons showcasing the finishing power of spirits from around the world. Includes Cognac, Curaçao, Apera Sherry, Armagnac, and Amburana Cask-Finished expressions, each released as limited editions.
• Distiller's Select Collection Single barrel selections hand-picked by key team members including Head Distiller Daniel Joslin, VP of Production Ric deMontmollin, and Production Lead Zack Wildrick. Each bottle represents a unique flavor profile from a specific barrel.
• Eaves Blind Premium collectible bourbon series curated by Marianne Eaves, Kentucky's first female Master Distiller, in partnership with eight of the most-awarded craft distilleries in America to showcase craft bourbon from different American regions.
• Port Finished Gin New World Gin finished in port wine barrels from San Sebastian Winery for 6 months, producing a peppery, floral, and more earthy gin. Crafted sustainably through the barrel exchange program.
• Barrel Aged Gin (Sweet White Vermouth and Red Vermouth) New World Gin aged for one year in vermouth barrels, released as Sweet White Vermouth and Red Vermouth expressions (1,200 bottles each), creating a softer, rounder, and more complex flavor profile.
• 10-Year Anniversary Bourbon Blend One-of-a-kind bourbon blend created from the four oldest barrels in the collection (each aged over 9 years), with over 60% of original volume lost during aging. Released to mark the company's 10-year anniversary.
• Toasted Finish Bourbon Limited release Florida bourbon finished in lightly toasted oak barrels, bottled at 94.0 Proof.
• Old Fashioned Mix Ready-to-use cocktail mixer containing Florida cane sugar, premium bitters, cinchona bark, and savory spices. Combined with bourbon to prepare an Old Fashioned cocktail at home.
• Florida Mule Mix Cocktail mixer featuring Florida cane sugar, real ginger root, and a dash of cayenne. Designed to pair with Florida Cane Vodka and is best served in a copper mug.
• Grapefruit Hibiscus Mix Fresh juice mixer featuring sweet and sour grapefruit enhanced with hibiscus essence, lime juice, and Florida Golden Cane Sugar. Designed for use with New World Gin.
• Tropical Tiki Mix Cocktail mixer blend of Florida cane sugar, pineapple, coconut, and lime. Pairs with Pot Distilled Rum for tropical cocktail creations.
• Essential Tonic Tonic syrup made with Florida Cane sugar and spices including cinchona bark. Designed to be mixed with seltzer and New World Gin to make a fresh gin and tonic.
• Self-Guided Tours Free self-guided tours available 7 days a week (10:30 AM – 5:30 PM), featuring multiple spirit tasting opportunities, cocktail mixing lessons, and access to production areas. Includes the Fill Your Own Bottle experience.
• Guided Experiences Premium in-depth educational guided tour and tasting experiences with limited capacity, requiring reservation as sessions sell out quickly.
• Fill Your Own Bottle Experience Hands-on experience where visitors step behind the production line to fill and personalize a bottle of cask-strength bourbon directly from the barrel. Available in the distillery retail shop.

Quantifiable outcome

• #1 Whiskey Tour in North America recognition
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• San Sebastian WinerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing barrel exchange program where St. Augustine Distillery sends used bourbon barrels to San Sebastian Winery. San Sebastian fills these barrels with port wine. When the port is bottled, the barrels are returned to St. Augustine Distillery for finishing bourbon and gin. This creates unique port-finished expressions and supports local business sustainability.
• Kelvin CooperagecoreTechnology or IntegrationArtisan barrel company in Lexington, Kentucky providing high-quality American White Oak barrels. Barrels are made from wood ricked and air-dried for 18-36 months, then built, toasted, and charred to St. Augustine Distillery's custom specifications.
• FPL (Florida Power & Light)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual partnership for Whiskey Wonderland holiday event. FPL Solar Now Tree and other festive activities featured at the free community event at the distillery.
• Bourbon WomenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Bourbon Women organization for events and education. St. Augustine Distillery hosted the founding of the 15th Bourbon Women branch with private tours, cocktail experiences, and exclusive barrel picks.
• Eaves Blind Series / Marianne EavescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Kentucky's first female Master Distiller Marianne Eaves for the Eaves Blind premium collectible bourbon series. Marianne hand-selected unique blends of Florida bourbon for this series showcasing craft bourbon from different American regions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Castle & Key Distillery: Castle & Key operates out of a meticulously restored historic Kentucky distillery (Old Taylor Distillery, c. 1887) and offers guided tours, tastings, and a craft spirits portfolio including bourbon, rye, gin, and vodka. Its combination of heritage-building restoration, destination tourism, and craft spirits production mirrors St. Augustine Distillery's experiential and manufacturing model.
• FEW Spirits: Chicago-based craft distillery producing bourbon, rye, gin, and vodka with a tasting room experience and strong D2C brand. Comparable in craft grain-to-bottle bourbon production, gin category leadership, and urban/tourist experiential model.
• Koval Distillery: Chicago craft distillery producing organic whiskey, gin, vodka, and liqueurs with on-site tasting room and D2C focus. Comparable in grain-to-bottle craft production, multi-spirit portfolio, and small-batch premium positioning.
• Corsair Artisan Distillery: Nashville-based craft distillery producing experimental whiskeys, gins, and rums with an emphasis on innovative grain bills and cask finishes. Comparable craft scale, multi-category spirits portfolio, and innovative product development approach.
• New Riff Distilling: Kentucky craft distillery producing bourbon, rye, malt whiskey, gin, and rum with a strong focus on traditional pot-still production and on-site tasting room. Comparable in craft bourbon positioning, multi-category spirits portfolio, and bourbon enthusiast collector base.
• Balcones Distilling: Texas craft distillery producing distinctive bourbon, rye, and other whiskeys with proprietary grain bills and a strong award-winning reputation. Comparable craft scale, terroir-driven branding, and award-collecting product development approach.
• Smooth Ambler: West Virginia-based craft distillery producing bourbon, rye, gin, and rum, with a strong aged-spirits portfolio and award recognition. Comparable in scale and product mix (flagship bourbon plus craft portfolio) and competes in the same craft-on-premise and retail channels.
• Chattanooga Whiskey: Tennessee craft distillery with an experimental finished-whiskey program and a flagship Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery tour experience. The two organizations are even co-listed in the Eaves Blind series; both compete on craft bourbon identity, novel cask finishing, and destination tourism.
• Laws Whiskey House: Colorado-based grain-to-bottle craft distillery producing bourbon, rye, and other whiskeys with proprietary mash bills and on-site tours/tastings. Closely mirrors St. Augustine's grain-to-glass sourcing, single-site production, and DTC experiential focus.
• Treaty Oak Distilling: Texas-based craft distillery producing bourbon, rye, gin, vodka, and rum on a historic ranch property with on-site tours and tastings. Mirrors St. Augustine's state-pride terroir branding, grain-to-bottle production, and tourism-anchored retail model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/staugustinedistillery
• Facebookfacebook.com/StAugustineDistilleryCompany

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about St. Augustine Distillery Company