Bourbon Review

St. Augustine Distillery

Florida Straight Bourbon Whiskey — DSP-FL-20008

3 Just Have a Pour

Distillery St. Augustine Distillery Co. Origin St. Augustine, FL Type Florida Straight Bourbon ABV ~45% Price ~$50

The Story

St. Augustine Distillery holds the distinction of being one of Florida's oldest craft distilleries, operating out of a restored 1930s ice plant in the nation's oldest city. There's something fitting about a state better known for theme parks and humidity producing a bourbon — and this one actually earns a second pour. Made with Florida-grown corn and aged in the subtropical heat, the barrels cycle through temperature faster than a Kentucky rickhouse, which accelerates extraction and produces a spirit that punches above its age.

Nose, Palate & Finish

Nose

Warm caramel and toasted oak up front, with a pleasant undercurrent of vanilla bean and dried apricot. A touch of cinnamon spice creeps in as it opens up. Not complex, but inviting — the kind of nose that doesn't demand anything from you.

Palate

Medium-bodied with a noticeable sweetness — brown sugar and butterscotch lead, followed by baking spices and a mild oak grip. The Florida heat aging shows here: there's more wood influence than you'd expect for the age, but it works in its favor. Hints of dried fruit and a faint nuttiness round it out.

Finish

Medium length, slightly dry with lingering oak tannins and vanilla. Fades cleanly without any harsh bite. Nothing that overstays its welcome.

The Verdict

If you're in Florida and you haven't tried this, you should. It's not going to unseat your favorite Kentucky bourbon, but it's a genuinely solid pour with a good story behind it — and supporting a local distillery that's doing things the right way feels like the right call. Worth keeping a bottle around, especially for guests who like to ask where things come from.