Rum Distillers Workshop

Two-day Florida rum distilling class. build a wash, ferment & distill Florida rum at Indian River Distillery in Vero Beach.

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.

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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

Also check out other Workshops in Vero Beach.