Last Saturday night (July 19), Jacksonville’s bourbon community came together not just for the whiskey but for a cause that mattered. The Jax Bourbon Social hosted its Bourbon and Whiskey Tasting Event at the Ramallah American Club, raising funds for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. What followed was an evening full of good spirits in every sense of the word—remarkable pours, fascinating conversations, and a deeper look into how Southern heat is shaping whiskey’s future.
The evening set the tone right away. Check-in was seamless, handled by a crew of friendly volunteers who immediately directed me to the raffle room. That room alone was worth the price of admission—tables stacked with coveted bottles and the evening’s “store pick,” a Single Barrel Cask Strength from New England Barrel Company. If you’ve been following my posts, you know this bottle had already won my cask-strength blind tasting, so snagging another felt like a victory before I’d even had my first sip.
Inside the main tasting hall, I decided to let curiosity set my course. My first stop was Copper Collar Bourbon from Florida’s panhandle, whose rye-forward bourbon raised a question I’ve often wondered: Can rye truly thrive in the sweltering Deep South? They just smiled and poured me a sample. That was the pattern of the night—when I asked the same question of other distillers, they all let the whiskey speak for itself. Some pours were better than others, but every single one justified its place on the table.
One standout? Jack-Son-Tucky, a Jacksonville Beach outfit whose uncut, unfiltered Reardon’s Platinum may have been the single best taste of the night. It was a reminder that great whiskey doesn’t have to come from Kentucky.
A few tables later, I was talking with Maxwell Darby, president of 13th Colony Distillery in Americus, Georgia. He made a compelling case that Southern weather actually helps the whiskey mature. “The swings from cool to warm to hot make the whiskey work harder in the barrel,” he told me. “You get more flavor faster than you would in the steady climates up north.” It’s a fascinating theory—and one I’d love to test by lining up samples from different states to see which terroir tells the best story.
Beyond those highlights, the lineup was stellar: familiar names like Yellowstone, Penelope, Frey Ranch, Green River, and Uncle Nearest all delivered, and I discovered new favorites like Sweet Home Spirits (Alabama) and G-Man Bourbon (created by three federal agents—a pour with authority). Soldier City Spirits from St. Cloud, Florida, even poured a 75-proof pre-mixed Old Fashioned that was almost dangerously drinkable.
Of course, the night wasn’t just about whiskey. I met the guys from Warriors & Whiskey, an organization supporting the Veterans’ Whiskey Club (I’ve already sent in my membership request). There was plenty of great food to balance the bourbon, and More Labs provided bottles of their Morning Recovery drink—a Sunday morning lifesaver.
If I had one regret, it was attending solo. Events like this are made for sharing with friends, and I would have loved some company as I missed a bottle of 1792 in the raffle by a single number. Still, I walked away with some nice swag, a bottle I’ll treasure, and a deeper appreciation for how Southern heat and passionate craftsmanship are putting our region on the bourbon map.
And yes—I’m already counting down the days to next year.
Copyright © 2025 Doug DeBolt.
