Visit the St. Augustine Distillery on Your Next Vacation

A cocktail in hand. A spot by the beach. The ancient city may be well known for its stunning beachside havens and historic architecture, but for some, they are all in service of something else- a good drink.

This is why the St. Augustine Distillery is a centerpiece of the community and a must-see attraction. With its free tours, epic end-of-tour tasting, and time-honored styling, you can’t go wrong with a visit. Take an afternoon break away from our St. Augustine vacation rentals in the distillery and the nearby historic downtown.

About

The distillery only formed a few years ago but has quickly solidified itself as a substantial part of the city. It began with the collective efforts of 28 locals who love community preservation and craft distilling. A local ice plant was slated for destruction. The Historic FP&L Ice Plant was long defunct. But the group of nearly 30 put their minds together to secure the property and turn it into a distillery and bar combination. The team also restored the ice plant, turning it from a historic novelty to an active ice plant, and the first to make commercial ice in Florida in over 100 years.

Now, you can visit for a tour of the best distillery in St. Augustine, including a first-hand look at the crafting process. You then follow it up with a tasting at no cost. The gift shop is available where you can buy alcohol and other gifts.

Guests can then venture upstairs to the Ice Plant, a renowned and beloved local restaurant and bar, that captures the essential spirit of the former ice plant. The original architecture is still largely intact and drinks are custom-made from spirits crafted downstairs.

st augustine distillery
Photo from Shutterstock

Spirits

Speaking of spirits, what is the distillery most known for?

The distillery utilizes strictly local and regional agricultural to source all ingredients for crafting. Notably, the distillery produces about the same in a year that most distilleries produce in a day.

The St. Augustine Distillery highly stresses authentic historical practices, such as the use of copper pots, to make drinking better, not faster.

This results in some magnificent signature spirits. The most notable, and original, is the St. Augustine Florida Cane Vodka farmed from 100% local cane sugar. It is void of impurities, providing a sleek and smooth taste with subtle splashes of green apple, white pepper, and molasses.

The Florida Double Cask St. Augustine bourbon is another favorite, especially fermented with proprietary yeast strains.

We round out the top selections with the New World Gin. It’s a particularly unique mix, with citrus and spice notes, including cassia bark and angelica, to round out the palette.

Tours

Visitors receive a grand overview of the alcohol-making process, including a tour of the site and a video presentation. Tours are completely free. Tours are offered every 30 minutes and last about 25 minutes, which leaves plenty of time for a visit to one of St. Augustine’s best beaches.

The distillery is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, including weekends. It is located at 112 Riberia St. The Ice Plant is open from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesday through Friday, Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to midnight, and Monday 11:30 a.m. to midnight.

Plan Your Visit

Contact us today for additional details. Review our list of St. Augustine vacation homes and see the ancient city for yourself.

Places to Stay

The distillery is one of the top attractions in historic St. Augustine and an essential part of the local DNA. But before you visit, you have to secure your St. Augustine stay. Fortunately, we can offer you the ideal St. Augustine beach rental.