Medium/Craft Distillery Whiskey Founders
FLORIDA
(NOTE: FOUNDERS ARE LISTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
Below are links to Whiskey Founders Life Stories that have made huge contributions to the growth of the Florida Whiskey Industry and Southern Whiskeys in general. These may have been historical figures that lived long ago before prohibition or may be living leaders that have advanced the cause of the industry as a whole.
(as well as Whiskey Founders from Puerto Rico)
1
Matthew Allen
Dark Door Spirits
When Matthew Allen co-founded Dark Door Spirits in Tampa, Florida, he was not setting out to become just another craft distiller. His mission was more personal: to craft whiskey that broke from tired traditions while still respecting the long arc of American distilling. He and his partner shared a belief that Florida deserved a whiskey identity beyond tropical-flavored spirits.
2
3
David Cohen
Manifest Distilling
Cohen’s approach is practical and meticulous. He has spoken at length about learning the mechanics of distillation in Kentucky, then translating that discipline to Florida’s climate and consumer tastes. That means paying attention to fermentation parameters and raw ingredient selection, but also to logistics.
In January 2014, after years of study and preparation, Espenship founded his distillery in Jacksonville Beach and named it The Jack•Son•Tucky. From the day it fired up its stills, The Jack•Son•Tucky was built around one principle: whiskey only—no vodka, no gin, no shortcuts.
Sean Espenship
The Jack*son*tucky
4
Ronny Folino
Oceanside Distillery
Ronny and his older brother, Lorenzo, grew up steeped in the quiet mechanics of distilling. Their grandfather, a skilled metalworker, fashioned makeshift stills and produced grappa as a hobby. That heritage stayed with Ronny even as his life took several practical turns: studies in engineering at the University of Central Florida, followed by architectural training in Italy.
5
6
Philip McDaniel
St. Augustine Distillery
McDaniel currently serves as co-founder and CEO of the St. Augustine Distillery. He has worked diligently to push for updated legislation that would ease the restrictive liquor laws in the state of Florida. When the St. Augustine Distillery first opened, they could not sell bottles directly to consumers, nor could they sell their products by the glass.
Scott Neil
Horse Soldier Bourbon
Neil had a successful career serving in the United States Army Special Forces, including deployments to some of the most challenging environments in the world. He was on one of the first teams inserted in Afghanistan after 9/11. Neal’s vision came to life in 2015 when he and his good friends John and Elizabeth, together, founded American Freedom Distillery.