About this Event
Rum Distillers Workshop
Discover how true Florida rum is crafted, from cane to cask! This two-day, hands-on distilling workshop at Indian River Distillery in Vero Beach, Florida, puts you in the heart of the process.
You’ll mash a full 550-gallon batch of molasses rum wash, pitch yeast, and run the hybrid still under the guidance of head distiller Ray Hooker.
Participants will discover every step of the craft: from fermentation dynamics and sugar chemistry to learning precise cuts during distillation and then evaluating the spirit.
You’ll fill and seal a barrel of fresh rum, enjoy lunch and local hospitality both days, and take home a bottle of Treasure Fleet Rum.
Limited to 10 participants for a truly immersive experience. Florida’s most authentic rum-making class.
Day 1
🕑: 09:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Arrival and Welcome
Info: Coffee & Safety brief, introduction to Indian River Distillery and Florida Rum tradition.
🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Rum Production Overview
Info: Overview of rum styles and sugar sources: molasses vs. sugarcane juice vs. sugar
Rum’s unique fermentation challenges
🕑: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Hands-On Wash Prep
Info: Inspect and discuss molasses quality, add molasses & possible raw cane sugar correction incorporate nutrients and buffers
🕑: 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Water Chemistry & pH Balance
Info: Review water profile for rum fermentation, pH targets and adjustments additives and enzyme usage
🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Lunch Break
Info: Provided lunch and Q&A with Ray
🕑: 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Yeast Lab
Info: Discover yeast strain possibilities rehydrate yeast and make starter, pitch yeast
🕑: 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Fermentation Setup
Info: Transfer the wash to fermenter, learn expected fermentation timeline, Brix/SG targets and how they effect ABV
🕑: 03:00 PM - 03:30 PM
Recap & outline Day 2 goals (distillation!) Distilling questions
Day 2
🕑: 09:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Morning Kickoff
Info: Coffee & Questions
Quick recap of Day 1
Check on fermentation progress (gravity & pH readings)
🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Distillation Prep
Info: Transfer fermented wash to the still review safety guidelines and still operation basics.
Discuss heads, hearts, and tails: What to expect
🕑: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Hands-On Distillation
Info: Fire up the still! Learn how to make cuts by smell, taste. Monitor vapor temperature, cooling, and learn collection points
🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Lunch in the still room
Info: We will eat our lunch (provided) in the still room while it is running.
🕑: 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Run tasting and evaluation
Info: Tasting of the fractions and flavor profiles of the run changes during the run.
🕑: 02:00 PM - 02:30 PM
Tails.... yuck
Info: Where do they start, what do they smell and taste like.
🕑: 02:30 PM - 03:00 PM
Filling a barrel
Info: Filling a used barrel with rum
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Indian River Distillery, 3308 Aviation Boulevard, Vero Beach, United States
USD 375.32
