Notes and Reviews for Whiskey Ring Podcast Episode 183: St. Augustine Distillery with Ric deMontmillon and Will Hensler

Whiskey, Rum, and Community: St. Augustine Distillery

In this episode of the Whiskey Ring Podcast, we take a deep dive into the world of craft distilling in Florida, featuring two key figures from the St. Augustine Distillery: Will Hensler, the COO, and Rick deMontmillon, the VP of Production. As we explore the unique landscape of distilling in the Sunshine State, we uncover the rich history and innovative practices that have shaped St. Augustine Distillery into a standout player in the craft spirits scene.

We kick off the conversation by discussing the origins of the distillery, which was established as the third beverage alcohol distillery in Florida and the first to produce whiskey. Will and Rick share insights into the early days of the distillery, including the challenges of navigating Florida's licensing requirements and the ambitious collaboration of 22 families that brought the distillery to life. They highlight the lack of distilling history in Florida and how the founders aimed to create a new legacy in the Lincolnville neighborhood of St. Augustine.

The episode delves into the evolution of craft distilling laws in Florida, including the ability for craft distilleries to serve cocktails and the ongoing restrictions on out-of-state investment. Will and Rick explain how these regulations have shaped their growth strategy and the importance of maintaining their craft status.

As we wrap up the episode, we explore the distillery's commitment to sustainability and community involvement, as well as their dedication to employee education and retention. Will and Rick share their vision for the future of St. Augustine Distillery, emphasizing the importance of quality, community, and the unique Florida identity that they strive to embody in every bottle.

Thank you to Ric and Will for entering the Whiskey Ring!

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St. Augustine Distillery Florida Straight Bourbon: Specs

Classification: Florida Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Producer: St. Augustine Distillery

Mashbill: 60% Florida Corn, 22% Barley, 18% Florida Wheat

Proof: 88 (44% ABV)

Age: 3+ Years Old

Location: Florida, USA

St. Augustine Distillery Florida Straight Bourbon Price: $50

Official Website

St. Augustine Distillery Florida Straight Bourbon: Tasting Notes

Eye: Slightly hazy amber. Medium-thin rims, long legs and small drops.

Nose: Warming caramels, charred oranges (never had grilled oranges but I bet it would be close). Mild astringency on the nose. Banana taffy, dried strawberries. A lumberyard of fruit wood, charred.

Palate: You can tell this had a lot of wood interaction, so while there are tannins and astringency, the fact it’s not overwhelming is impressive. Roasting corn, a bit watered for my taste but I understand its place for entry-level. Caramels from the wheat eke out with vanilla ice cream. Mouthfeel is silky, a bit thin with some bite, some cinnamon, focuses on the front tongue and pools mid-palate.

Finish: A thin lacquer lingers mid-to-front tongue, a light finish, an old fashioned where the ice has had time to melt. Short side of medium.

Overall: Nothing extreme on either end. I can clearly see both the wood interaction driven by the heat and the place of this in the lineup. It’s a bit watery for my tastes, though the flavors are clear, and someone just starting out or who isn’t used to higher proofs will enjoy this quite a bit.

Final Rating: 6.4

St. Augustine Distillery Port-Finished Florida Straight Bourbon: Specs

Classification: Florida Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Producer: St. Augustine Distillery

Mashbill: 60% Florida Corn, 22% Barley, 18% Florida Wheat

Proof: 102 (51% ABV)

Age: 3+ Years Old

Location: Florida, USA

St. Augustine Distillery Port-Finished Florida Straight Bourbon Price: $80

Official Website

St. Augustine Distillery Port-Finished Florida Straight Bourbon: Tasting Notes

Eye: Dark maple. Medium sloughing rims and legs, few large drops.

Nose: Rich, if not clearly port at first. Baking spices and barrel influence are amped up, but are also balanced by the jammy red wine coming through like a bold Cab-Sauv or Tempranillo. inky and fresher than the port I’ve had. Proof is minimal.

Palate: The bourbon is oddly much clearer here than on the 88 proof, much fuller. The sweet corn comes out with the port, more red wine than fortified. Eucalyptus and a touch of menthol, dark honey in black tea. Mouthfeel is piquant, black pepper on the front third of my tongue, fresh orchard and stone fruits - plums, especially - with fruit flesh. Feels very summery with a kick on the back end. Cinnamon sticks around.

Finish: Coating, remains medium-bodied, baking spices coalesce into cinnamon, the port sweetness turning into a lovely spice from the oak and a higher proof. Medium length.

Overall: Showcases the bourbon better than the bourbon alone did, though a higher proof could be part of that. Amps up both sweetness and spice, with sweet stone fruits. Medium length finish expands the complexity. Quite enjoyable.

Final Rating: 7.3

St. Augustine Distillery “The Saint”: Specs

Classification: Florida Bourbon Whiskey, Finished

Producer: St. Augustine Distillery

Mashbill: 60% Florida Corn, 22% Barley, 18% Florida Wheat

Proof: 114.8 (57.4% ABV)

Age: 3+ Years Old

Location: Florida, USA

St. Augustine Distillery “The Saint” Price: $200

Official Website

St. Augustine Distillery “The Saint”: Tasting Notes

Eye: Clear, Grade A maple syrup. Medium syrupy rims, medium legs, large globular droplets.

Nose: Ooh - this is going to be good! Orange from the old fashioned mix is dry and not too sweet or tart, the skin with enough pith to add bitterness. The bitters and a flavor like red vermouth emerge on top of a syrupy bourbon with no oakiness. Hint of a muddled cherry. Love the nose.

Palate: The proof is more up front, tastes like a high proof old fashioned. The bitterness of the orange pith and the bitters themselves add dark chocolate, pepper on the tip of my tongue. Mouthfeel is a syrupy coating turning dry, not woody just astringent. A surprising numbing on the mid-to-front tongue, orange oil and a slightly wet lacquer. Cherry liqueur around the edges, astringency grows quickly.

Finish: Drying, back half of the tongue is fruity, all oranges and cherries, some orange flesh/pulp. Bourbon doesn’t get lost, keeps its place with roasted or grilled corn and the bitters helping the corn break through.

Overall: Quite delicious and certainly unique. My hesitation is only on the price, and with that really on the value-per-pour. While the taste and nose are great, it is very much like a high proof, high quality old fashioned. As a lower-priced cocktail, even if a high quality one, the cost per oz might be prohibitive for some. If you can afford the $200, though, it fulfills that “singular product” criterion that allows for that kind of pricing.

Final Rating: 7.4