Craft liquor maker to open in Sanford’s drink district

A new craft liquor maker, Loggerhead Distillery, is trying to set up shop in downtown Sanford’s growing food and drink district.

Loggerhead Distillery submitted an application to Sanford’s development officials to put the 2,056-square-foot alcohol-making operation at 124 W. 2nd St. That’s the former site of Fantastic Cleaners.

Initial plans call for Loggerhead to make vodka, gin, aged rums and limited runs of whiskey “with a distinctive flair,” according to an application submitted by one of the owners, Colby Theisen.

The company’s website says it will offer “Artisanal Spirits” with locally-sourced Ingredients from Florida. Varieties named on the website include light rum, spiced rum and herbal gin. They hope to open by October. There are also plans for a gift shop, tours and a tasting room, which would allow it to comply with state laws for small liquor makers to sell their product.

A craft liquor trend is starting to materialize in Central Florida. Winter Park Distilling Co. opened its Bear and Peacock Brewery Taproom in 2017, which also provides tours and has separate tasting room. Venues in St. Augustine, Miami, Tampa and elsewhere in Florida have been providing tours and building tasting rooms to promote their liquors, following the boom in the state’s craft beer brewing industry.

“We are all aware of the micro-brewery trend but may not realize that craft distilleries have also begun an explosion of growth and interest,” Theisen wrote in a letter to Sanford’s planning and zoning commission.

It would be the newest addition to one of the fastest-growing beer and restaurant districts in Central Florida. Craft Breweries, such as Wop’s Hops and Sanford Brewing, have set up shop there, along with popular restaurants, such as Tennessee Truffle and Smiling Bison. Two new breweries, Inner Compass Deviant Wolfe brewing have also opened since the beginning of the year.

Theisen and the other owners have plans of “working with other breweries on limited edition runs, supply rum barrels for flavoring their beers, supplying the local restaurants,” the letter said. “... imagine rum cake from the local bakeries, bourbon-flavored marshmallows, etc.”

The distillery’s owners still have several regulatory hurdles to jump through, Theisen said, so many of the details are still being determined.

A craft liquor trend is starting to materialize in Central Florida, and Loggerhead Distillery plans to open in October.