Production places
Connections to water sources, peat places, maltings, cooperages, warehouses and maturation sites. Uncertain connections are labelled.
No documented production places are linked to this distillery yet.
Fish Hawk Spirits
Overview of the Distillery
Fish Hawk Spirits is a small distillery in Ocala, Florida, that combines on-site malting, local ingredients, and hand-filling to produce small-batch whiskies under the brand Sui Generis. The distillery is known for its experimental use of smoked grains and smoked oak chips, as well as a range of award-winning releases and infused whiskies.
History
Fish Hawk Spirits has gained attention through a string of medals at competitions in 2018 and 2019, with products such as Conquistador 1513, Siren Song, and Diaphanous Diamond receiving honors from among others SIP Awards, American Craft Distilling Institute, and Cigar & Spirits. The distillery's production is based on local ingredients, including the Silver Queen corn variety grown on a farm near the distillery, and during this period they have established themselves as a small but visible player in American craft distilling. The team behind includes Master Distiller Matthew Bagdanovich and tasting room manager Michael Bagdanovich, both central to production and guest experiences.
Raw Materials and Production
The production core is on-site malting of grain and the use of local ingredients: some mash bills use half-smoked kernels, others use the entire corn plant (stalks, leaves, ears, kernels, and cobs). The distillery uses custom-built distillation equipment developed by the team themselves and works in small batches. Several of their corn-based whiskies start as a matured corn spirit, which is subsequently conditioned in barrels and drums, and all bottles are hand-filled. They also use systematic smoked oak chips in drums to control smoke intensity, and the infused products undergo several weeks of infusion with natural ingredients before filtration and hand-bottling.
Maturation and Barrel Types
Maturation combines traditional barrels with drum-conditioning and the addition of smoked oak chips. Some products mature at high proof in drums to preserve intensity, while others receive additional influence from chips to adjust color and smoke content. This approach provides flexibility to create everything from bright, sweet corn expressions to more smoky, dark varieties.
Whiskies
Sui Generis is the distillery's main line and includes a core of corn- and alternative grain whiskies such as Conquistador 1513 (100% oats), Siren Song, Diaphanous Diamond, and Silver Queen, as well as several variants that are conditioned with smoked oak chips. In addition to the core range, the portfolio includes a number of infused whiskies based on Chamoisee Carnelian, where natural ingredients such as mango, apple, fig, cranberry, and herbs are used to create distinct, layered flavor experiences. The products are produced in small batches and hand-bottled; the price range for retail purchases is stated to lie between $29 and $199.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Barrel and Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conquistador 1513 | Oat whiskey; Sui Generis | Barrels and oak chips; finish: Aged with barrels and chips to create a smoky oatmeal finish; smoked/dried | 100% oat mash bill with half-smoked and half-rolled oats from farmers in northern Florida; aged with barrels and chips to create a smoky, oat-forward finish. Finish: Smoky oatmeal finish (noted as the target for conditioning) | Current; Core range |
| Siren Song | Corn Whiskey; Sui Generis | Barrels conditioned with heavily smoked oak chips (drums); finish: Conditioned in barrels with heavily smoked oak chips to achieve dense smoke tones; smoked/dried | Starts from matured corn spirit and subsequently conditioned in barrels with heavily smoked oak chips in drums to achieve a deep smoky aroma and a gentle sweetness. Finish: Dense smoky aroma with a soft sweetness | Current; Core range |
| Diaphanous Diamond | Corn Whiskey; Sui Generis | Drums (high-proof maturation) and barrels; finish: Matured at high proof in drums; smoked/dried | Mash made from Yellow Maize Corn, half the kernels smoked and half raw; double-distilled, conditioned and aged at high proof in drums to form the base. | Current; Core range |
| Silver Queen | Corn Whiskey; Sui Generis | Barrels | Made from Silver Queen Sweet White Corn grown on a farm near the distillery; the entire plant (stalks, leaves, ears, kernels, and cobs) is used in the mash to preserve sweetness. Limited annual production of 1,000 bottles. | Current; Core range; 1,000 bottles |
| Aurelian Axinite | Corn Whiskey; Sui Generis | Barrels and smoked oak chips (drums); finish: Conditioned in barrels and with smoked oak chips for a blond appearance with sweetness and a touch of smoke; smoked/dried | Begins with aged corn spirit, then conditioned in barrels and with smoked oak chips in drums to achieve a blond color, strong sweetness and a hint of smoke. | Current; Core range |
| Chamoisee Carnelian | Corn Whiskey (base for infused range); Sui Generis | Barrels and smoked oak chips; finish: Light amber color with balanced smoke and sweetness via additional smoked chips; smoked/dried | Matured base corn spirit, treated in barrels and with smoked oak chips to achieve a balance between sweetness and smoke. Also used as the base for their infused whiskies. | Current; Core range |
| Ecru Enstatite | Corn Whiskey; Sui Generis | Barrels and smoked oak chips; finish: Conditioned in barrels and with extra smoked chips for a dense copper color and strong smoke tones; smoked/dried | Conditioned in barrels and with extra smoked oak chips in drums to create a dense copper color and powerful smoke tones combined with sweetness. Finish: Heavy smoke tones with underlying sweetness | Current; Core range |
| Split Charisma | Infused / Flavoured Whisky; Infused (Sui Generis) | Infusion based on Chamoisee Carnelian; added Mango, Habanero and Cilantro over several weeks, filtered and hand-bottled. | Current | |
| Orchard Buzz | Infused / Flavoured Whisky; Infused (Sui Generis) | Infusion made with apple, applewood and honey; developed over several weeks and hand-bottled. Described as suitable for cocktails. | Current | |
| Fall of Man | Infused / Flavoured Whisky; Infused (Sui Generis) | Infusion with fig, thyme and basil; combines earthy and aromatic elements over a multi-week infusion process, followed by filtration and hand-bottling. | Current | |
| Squanto's Secret | Infused / Flavoured Whisky; Infused (Sui Generis) | Infusion with cranberry, vanilla and cinnamon; warm and spicy profile developed through several weeks of infusion and subsequent filtration. | Current | |
| Headless Horseman | Infused / Flavoured Whisky; Infused (Sui Generis) | Infusion with pumpkin, fig and nutmeg; developed as a stronger, spiced autumn edition through several weeks of infusion. | Current | |
| Avant Garden | Infused / Flavoured Whisky; Infused (Sui Generis) | Infusion with blueberries, almond and rosemary; a fresh, fruit- and herb-forward variant developed over several weeks of infusion and filtration. | Current |
Whisky Style and Flavor Profile
A clear throughline is present: smoke from half-smoked grains and smoked oak chips, a pronounced sweetness especially in corn-based expressions (and in Silver Queen, where the whole plant is used), as well as a wide range of fruity and spicy notes in the infused expressions. The infusions add elements of tropical fruit, apple/honey, fig, and spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg, as well as herbal nuances from ingredients like thyme and rosemary.
Visiting the Distillery
Tours and experiences are led by Master Distiller Matthew Bagdanovich and begin in an open, tiki-inspired tasting room. A typical tour lasts about 45 minutes, usually starting at 3:30 PM Thursday–Sunday, with room for up to 18 guests and includes free tastings as well as the option to purchase cocktails and bottles. Private events can be booked, where the distillery is closed to the public and catering can be customized. All visits require advance reservations by phone or email. Note that tours are currently paused.
The stated opening hours: Tours are normally offered Thursday–Sunday starting at 3:30 PM; typically 45 minutes. (Currently, tours are temporarily paused.)
Philosophy and Craft
Fish Hawk Spirits emphasizes local roots and craftsmanship: on-site malting, use of corn from nearby fields, small-batch production, and hand-filling. The distillery's tasting room is designed to promote presence and conversation (no TV, limited phone reception), and the tours are personally conducted by the Master Distiller to ensure an authentic experience.