Tropical Distillers looks exactly like you imagined it would.
If you ’ve been along theKentucky Bourbon trailor die whisky taste through Scotland , you know distilleries have a certain “ looking at , ” a motif of imposing red bricks and tower of oak tree barrel , do against green rolling hill and a hazy sky .
In Miami , it wait a little unlike .
In Miami , it appear like Sophia convey a crazy musical theme one weekend and set up a copper still inThe Golden Girlsliving way . It ’s pastel walls , breezy back patios , palm trees , and plenty of atomic number 10 . It ’s a wicker - lined bar pouring drink full of tropical fruit and Cuban coffee . And the bright aroma of citrus tree replacing the discrete smell of fermenting food grain .
Photo courtesy of Tropical Distillers
Such is the case atTropical Distillers , ready to open this July in Allapattah . It ’s the first distillery in the city of Miami right — a mural - covered , 9,000 - square foot adroitness crap vibrant tropic liqueurs with a distinctly Miami gumption of place . “ It would ’ve been easy to do a wall of wood barrels and cast some brick up and we probably could have had this place open six month ago , ” enjoin Tropical Distillers CEO and Miami hospitality vet Buzzy Sklar . “ But we really wanted it to be a honest Miami experience . ”
Palm trees, herons, and pink pastel everything
The Miaminess of the property strike you even before you walk in , as the olfactory sensation of processing citrus fruit make believe the hem in streets smell like stretches of the Turnpike that run past OJ facility in Indian River County . Inside , visitors are greeted by a giving workshop done up in vivid pink and aquamarine , with a Hero of Alexandria mural aviate above single-foot of T - shirt , cocktail kits and souvenir feeding bottle , and a medallion tree standing in the center .
The gift shop is the jumping off point to Tropical ’s distillery tours , direct by professional distiller Devin Walden . Walden , one of the few women at the top of her field , arrive to Tropical from Woodford Reserve in Kentucky , and with her close - cropped blond hair and tattoo makes the experience a little like going on a still tour with Pink .
Walden extend Edgar Guest through the 9,000 - straight understructure distillery , where they ’ll see the thousand - congius still and fuzz “ innovation still ” where she plays mad scientist with new flavors . The tour of duty concludes in the still ’s try out elbow room , where client belly up to a bar topped with vintage Miami mailing-card , and sample five original spirits .
Photo courtesy of Tropical Distillers
After taste , guests can ordain one of several original cocktails , like Haden ’s Old Fashioned , made with J.F. Haden Mangifera indica liqueur , Bourbon dynasty , cherry , and orange rounds . Or the Haden ’s Espresso Martini , a mixing of J.F. Haden espresso liqueur and vodka , transcend with a sprinkling of umber beans . They’ll enjoy allege cocktails around the tasting elbow room bar , where tropical leafage , wicker , and dominoes on the paries dominate the decor . Floor - to - ceiling windows front out into the production storey , so node can watch over how their spirits are made .
Guests can also sip boozing on Tropical Distillers ’ breezy 1,500 square foot back patio , which will also host intellectual nourishment truck and admit to - be - determined bar games .
Meet the spirits coming out of Tropical Distillers
Tropical Distillers ’ flagship is the J.F. Haden ’s family of liqueurs , named after the man who owned the first mango grove in Dade County . The possibility card includes mango and citrus liqueur , alongside an espresso liqueur made with local - roast coffee .
“ I really like that I ’ve been capable to express my creativity more here , ” says Walden , who created the Espresso liqueur from blends used in Cuban coffee tree . “ I get to play around with the validation and the flavors . With bourbon , you do n’t have so much creative exemption , so it ’s been a completely dissimilar cognitive operation . ”
Tropical has a full lineup of traditional house - made smell , too , used in the bar ’s cocktail so they can legally sell motley drinks . They let in a quintuple - distill vodka , a Florida sugarcane rummy , and a Florida botanical infused gin with hibiscus and other local flora . Traditional tequila drinks will be made with Allapattah Agave , an alligator - themed imported agave look .
Photo courtesy of Tropical Distillers
They ’ll also be pouring Twin - phosphorus Whiskey , named after carbon monoxide - owners Mike and Maurkice Pouncey . The blended whiskey is a tribute to the twins , boasting a bottle with cover homages to the Florida Gators , the Dolphins , and the Pittsburgh Steelers .
Currently , Tropical Distillers ’ liquor are produced elsewhere in Florida , but once the distillery opens everything will be develop in Miami . They ’ll also be canning the bar ’s original cocktails .
In increase to offering circuit , Tropical Distillers will be a sail ship pleasure trip for passengers start out from Miami . And while the bar , tasting room , and terrace will be assailable to the public most 60 minutes , some hours will be reserve for distillery turn client . So , on your first visit , booking the tour is the move .
Photo courtesy of Tropical Distillers
Tropical Distillers brings yet another world - grade plus to our prosperous city , impart one of the few in - city creature comforts we were still miss and offer another attraction to quickly - gentrify Allapattah . “ We just mystify the World Cup , we got Formula One , all Miami did n’t have was a still , ” Sklar pronounce , from his office above the product floor . “ Now we can check that box , too . ”
