Manifest Distilling

Overview of the Distillery

Manifest Distilling is a full-scale, certified organic distillery in Downtown Jacksonville's Sports District. The facility works with both its own grain-based ferments and re-distillation of neutral spirits to produce gin, vodka, and rye whiskeys. The distillery highlights American-made equipment, traceable sourcing, and operates a cocktail room adjacent to the production facilities.

History

Manifest was founded by David Cohen, Scott Kennelly, Trey Mills, and Tom Johnson, and opened in September 2016. From a core of four people, the team has grown to include leaders for production, operations, events, and the cocktail room. The initiative is rooted in experiences teaching at the Siebel Institute and shadowing master distillers in Kentucky, and from the outset the distillery has prioritized transparency in sourcing and certified organic operation as a guiding principle.

Raw Materials and Production

Production at Manifest encompasses two main tracks: its own ferments and distillations of grain and fruit into rye whiskies, experimental whiskies, malt whiskies, brandies and liqueurs; as well as re-distillation of neutral spirits into gin and vodka. Several of their neutral base spirits are produced externally as over 190-proof neutrals and re-distilled on the site’s copper pot-column still to impart the desired character. The grains are supplied through a network of cooperatives in North America, and annexed operations under a certified organic framework mean documentation of raw materials, non-toxic sanitation, and isolation of non-organic products. The work also emphasizes quality by systematically removing the 'hearts' from each distillation.

Maturation and Barrel Types

The distillery works with barrel aging in product development; an example is Barreled Gin, which demonstrates that gin is also aged in barrels. Manifest also stores experimental whiskies and malt whiskies to mature and develop their profiles. The available documentation does not specify details about barrel types, previous contents, or use of new American oak, but shows that barrel aging is an integral part of product development.

Whiskies

The range centers on rye products and includes, among others, Straight Rye Whiskey, 100% Rye Whiskey, and Honey Rye Whiskey, as well as a number of experimental whiskies and malt whiskies in development. In addition to its own grain-based products, Manifest produces gin, vodka, and citrus vodka by re-distillation of sourced neutrals, and the portfolio includes both unaged and barrel-aged versions in different batches.

Visit the Distillery

Manifest is located in the Sports District in Downtown Jacksonville and welcomes the public via its cocktail room, which has separate opening hours. Tours are offered by appointment; interested parties should contact the distillery by phone or via the contact form to arrange a tour. The distillery and cocktail room opening hours are listed, and the phone number is provided in the contact information.

Opening hours are: Distillery: Wednesday–Thursday 2:00 PM–10:00 PM, Friday–Saturday 2:00 PM–12:00 AM. Cocktail Room hours: Wednesday 3:00 PM–8:00 PM; Thursday–Friday 3:00 PM–10:00 PM; Saturday 11:00 AM–11:00 PM.

Philosophy and Craft

Manifest combines an explicit emphasis on American craftsmanship with organic certification as an active choice for sustainability. They maintain a chain of custody for raw materials, use non-toxic sanitation, and openly indicate when a base spirit is sourced. Craft-wise, they focus on extracting the 'hearts' from the distillations and on ongoing training and improvement.

Sustainability

Operating a certified organic facility with requirements for chain of custody, non-toxic sanitation, and isolation of non-organic products. Prioritizing collaborations with suppliers who practice sustainable agricultural practices.