Florida craft distilleries could soon get a boost in business, if a majority of our state lawmakers in the Senate approve House bill 1219.
They have to look at it and pass it this week. Then it can head to the governor's desk.
Action News Jax reporter Courtney Cole talks to a local distillery about the bill and how it could benefit distilleries and customers.
“Everything we do is made from Florida products. Our vodka, our gin, our rum and 78% of all of our whiskey is made from Florida agriculture,” said Philip McDaniel, the CEO and co-founder of St. Augustine Distillery. McDaniel told Cole the distillery just celebrated its fifth successful year on Riberia Street in March.
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It's one of the five-dozen licensed distilleries in the state of Florida.
McDaniel said the distillery gets 800,000 visitors, and counting, every year.
"They taste our products and, in many cases, people live out of state,” McDaniel said.
So, by law, that means they can enjoy the liquor -- just not beyond the Florida state border.
"There have been statutes on the books since Prohibition that have had a very structured process of selling alcohol. It's a regulated industry,” said McDaniel.
But this new bill could help loosen the reins a bit.
House bill 1219 would allow out-of-state visitors to ship some of their craft liquors home, and allow craft distilleries to sell as many bottles to customers as they’d like. This bill would also allow distilleries to produce more than three times the amount of liquor they can right now.
And another perk for customers: A craft distillery would be allowed to sell drinks by the glass.
"So if you go to Intuition (Ale Works) or any of the great breweries in Jacksonville or St. Augustine, you can sit down and have a beer they made there. We currently can't do that,” McDaniel told Cole.
The bill would also help the state’s economy.
“The bill will require, if you call yourself a craft distillery, (you) to use 60% of Florida agriculture in what you make. We love that fact that the products that would be made in a craft distillery like ours will be made in Florida,” said McDaniel.
The bill already passed in the Florida House.
Now it has to be heard by the Senate before the legislative session ends this week.
If it doesn't, McDaniel remains hopeful.
"This has been really a breakthrough year for craft distilleries. Certainly it'll go back next year, hopefully the same — if not with more freedoms."
McDaniel says if you want to help, contact Senator Bill Galvano, the Senate President:
District Office in Bradenton: (941) 741-3401
Tallahassee Office: (850) 487-5021