Born and raised in St. Augustine, Daniel has been at our distillery since we distilled Barrel #100 of our Florida Straight Bourbon. Since then, he has earned the title of Head Distiller, where his passion and expertise are on full display in each of our flagship spirits. With top-notch sensory skills, he guides our spirits on their journey from grain to glass and leads our talented distilling team. He’s easygoing, quick to make us laugh, and a truly beloved member of our family! 

In advance of our Distiller’s Select Collection arriving on September 14th, we sat down with Daniel to talk about picking his own barrel, how distilling has changed the way he eats, and more.

Back in 2005, in the early days of his bartending career in Tallahassee, Florida, Ric deMontmollin always found himself drawn to the bottles on the back bar. They were intriguing, distinguished, and mysterious, and ignited a passion for the distillation process. That passion eventually led him to St. Augustine in 2019, where he now serves as VP of Production at our distillery. He is a bold innovator, beloved mentor, and an all-around fantastic guy whose presence lights up our entire distillery! 

In advance of our Distiller’s Select Collection arriving on September 14th, we sat down with Ric to talk about picking his own barrel, his favorite bourbon fun facts, and more. Read on! 

Production Lead Zack Wildrick is one of the newer members of our distilling team, but he’s made quite an impact since joining us in December of 2021. Zack is a true student of distilled spirits: he holds several prestigious certifications including Executive Bourbon Steward from the Stave & Thief Society, Rummelier from the Royal Rum Society, and Certified Specialists of Spirits from the Society of Wine Educators. We can’t wait to see where his talent and passion take him next! 

In advance of our Distiller’s Select Collection arriving on September 14th, we sat down with Zack to talk about picking his own barrel, his favorite part of working at our distillery, and more.

On March 19th, 2014, a dream became reality as St. Augustine Distillery opened its doors to the public for the very first time. This journey, however, truly began in 2011 when our co-founders Philip McDaniel and Mike Diaz began to formulate their vision for a craft distillery that truly embodied the spirit of the Sunshine State.

At St. Augustine Distillery, every drop of spirits we bottle is handcrafted with care. Why? Because we believe in capturing the Spirit of Florida® in every single step of the process. Learn how we make our flagship Pot Distilled Rum in our latest installment of the Spirit Lifecycle series!

St. Augustine Distillery is proud to present an evening of celebration in collaboration with Bourbon Women. Come celebrate the founding of the 15th branch of Bourbon Women on Saturday, June 25 at 6 PM with a private tour of our distillery, followed by a cocktail hour, sensory experience, guided tasting, and dinner in the distillery. Bourbon Women members will have a chance to pick the first-ever Florida Bourbon Women barrel, as well as exclusive prizes and gift bags.

Our quest to create unique spirits has yielded some unique collaborations and innovative spins on our core offerings. Learn more about barrel-finished spirits and our ever-growing lineup inside!

St. Augustine Distillery is proud to be included in the Eaves Blind Series curated by Marianne Eaves, one of the most esteemed tastemakers in the beverage industry and the first female master distiller in Kentucky. Eaves crafted this collectible bourbon series in partnership with eight of the most-awarded craft distilleries in America to showcase seven of the nine regions of American bourbon.

St. Augustine Distillery is proud to commit to sustainability every day. Step behind our production lines and learn more about how we preserve our community and planet!

March 19th is a special day at St. Augustine Distillery: eight years ago, we opened our doors to the public and sold our very first bottle of Florida Cane Vodka. To celebrate our eighth anniversary at Riberia Street, we want to take you back in time to show you how a dormant ice plant became the home of The Spirit of Florida®.

One of the core missions of St. Augustine Distillery is to provide spirits education to those in our community who wish to learn more. In the coming months, we will offer cocktail tastings, VIP Tours, and specialty classes, some of which will be curated and designed specifically for women. We are also working with a nationally recognized women’s spirits organization to create a Florida chapter, which will provide educational experiences across the state. Stay tuned for more information!

The big game is just around the corner, and St. Augustine Distillery has everything you need to throw the perfect super bowl party. We’ve put together this guide featuring two types of wings made with our Florida Straight Bourbon, along with an old fashioned recipe that adds the perfect hint of warming spice to a cold football Sunday.

St. Augustine is home to many firsts, including the first school, first church, and first hospital in what is now the United States. This month, however, we celebrate another St. Augustine first: Fort Mose State Park, home to the first legally sanctioned free Black settlement in our country’s history.

Did you know that Dr. King used to be a St. Augustine resident? Prior to the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, he lived and worked here as part of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and their efforts to desegregate the South, and even spent time in the St. Johns County Jail.

Keep reading to learn more about his legacy in St. Augustine.

For the final installment of our dinner party series, we’re showcasing the delicious sweetness of our Pot Distilled Rum. Our rum is one of very few that is aged in bourbon barrels from the same distillery, giving it a signature honey color and sweet, warming flavor. This unique aging process makes our rum perfect for recipes that require light or dark rum.

Here’s a drink, appetizer, entree, side dish, and dessert that you can make with our world-class Pot Distilled Rum:

We’re back with another edition of our dinner party series, and this time we’re featuring our fan favorite New World Gin! With over 12 herbs and botanicals, this flavorful spirit can bring out the best in seafood, citrus, and much more. We’ve got five recipes, including some old favorites and new spins, that will leave your guests craving more. Get started with our New World GIn Dinner Party Guide below!

Here at St. Augustine Distillery, we’re passionate about showcasing our spirits’ flavors in both food and drinks. This edition of our dinner party series features four recipes, including an appetizer, entree, side dish, and dessert, all made with our Florida Cane Vodka. Call up your friends and family, and fire up the stove for our Ultimate Vodka Dinner Party!

This Halloween, we’re honoring our Old City and all of its history, culture, and yes, magic. St. Augustine Distillery is proud to present the Old City Magic, a delicious cocktail made with our world-class gin.

In celebration of International Gin & Tonic Day, we’re diving deep into the history of the cocktail and how we’ve used those lessons to create our very own Essential Tonic. Keep reading for interesting facts, as well as a recipe for our very own Essential Tonic! 

"Day One Danny" has done it all, from making our award-winning bourbon to completely rebuilding our stripping and refining stills. D. Rodriguez & Sons Overproof Rum is a celebration of Danny’s dedication to St. Augustine Distillery.