Rum Distillers Workshop

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.

Info: Coffee & Safety brief, introduction to Indian River Distillery and Florida Rum tradition.

Info: Overview of rum styles and sugar sources: molasses vs. sugarcane juice vs. sugar

Rum’s unique fermentation challenges

Info: Inspect and discuss molasses quality, add molasses & possible raw cane sugar correction incorporate nutrients and buffers

Info: Review water profile for rum fermentation, pH targets and adjustments additives and enzyme usage

Info: Provided lunch and Q&A with Ray

Info: Discover yeast strain possibilities rehydrate yeast and make starter, pitch yeast

Info: Transfer the wash to fermenter, learn expected fermentation timeline, Brix/SG targets and how they effect ABV

Info: Coffee & Questions

Quick recap of Day 1

Check on fermentation progress (gravity & pH readings)

Info: Transfer fermented wash to the still review safety guidelines and still operation basics.
Discuss heads, hearts, and tails: What to expect

Info: Fire up the still! Learn how to make cuts by smell, taste. Monitor vapor temperature, cooling, and learn collection points

Info: We will eat our lunch (provided) in the still room while it is running.

Info: Tasting of the fractions and flavor profiles of the run changes during the run.

Info: Where do they start, what do they smell and taste like.

Info: Filling a used barrel with rum

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Indian River Distillery