Sunshine State Distributing has partnered with Dad’s Hat Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey to distribute the award-winning spirit throughout Central Florida.

According to our president and founder, Chris Larue, “Rye whiskey is increasing in popularity and for good reason: It’s spicy, yet smooth—a good sipping whiskey with distinct flavor. Dad’s Hat creates the best version of this classic whiskey, and we are excited to introduce whiskey lovers to the flavors of Pennsylvania rye whiskey.”

Founded in Bristol, Pennsylvania, just north of Philadelphia in 2011, Dad’s Hat produces its whiskeys in small batches using natural, local ingredients. The state of Pennsylvania is known as the birthplace of rye whiskey with production dating back to the late 1700s. Dad’s Hat distills rye spirits following the tradition of the region, a practice that has earned the distillery multiple awards, including a spot on Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Spirits list, Craft Whiskey of the Year by Whisky Advocate and a stellar 91.5 rating from Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.

Just in time for the holidays, you will find Dad’s Hat Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey on retail-store shelves in Orange, Osceola, Polk, Brevard, Lake, Seminole, Volusia and Flagler counties.

We’re excited to announce the launch of VYBES, an organic beverage made with Hemp CBD, throughout Central Florida. The announcement comes just days after Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation to legalize hemp farming and sales from licensed individuals in Florida.

“The legalization of hemp products in Florida allows us to give consumers what they’ve been asking for—a beverage made with CBD,” said Chris Larue, president and founder of Sunshine State Distributing. “We are excited to introduce VYBES in Central Florida. If you’re unsure of beverages made with CBD, this product will change your mind.”

VYBES touts the ability to help consumers’ bodies naturally achieve homeostasis by regulating anxiety, stress and sleep. The beverage comes in five flavors: honey crisp apple basil, burning mandarin, strawberry lavender, peach ginger and blueberry mint. Each bottle is made with organic ingredients and contains 25mg of organic Hemp CBD. 

CBD is derived from the hemp plant but does not contain THC, the psychoactive ingredient found in marijuana. Instead, it is a naturally occurring compound that has been shown to reduce pain, inflammation, stress and anxiety. 

Florida’s recently signed hemp bill sets guidelines around an already expanding industry. Hemp sales have been legal at the federal level since President Donald Trump signed the farm bill in December 2018, but the state has only recently put forth regulations for the safe sale of hemp products. While some retailers already carry CBD products, the signed bill opens the door for regulations around the cultivation of the plant and stricter rules for selling products that contain CBD. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is in the process of drafting a framework for the industry, which could include requirements on product labels, ingredients and farming standards.

VYBES, has taken a proactive approach, exceeding any current and expected requirements for the sale of their products and is completely legal in Florida.

You can now find VYBES on shelves at these high-end retail stores and restaurants in Orange, Osceola, Polk, Brevard, Lake, Seminole, Volusia and Flagler counties:

• B. Nice Patio Bar: 151 E Washington St, Orlando, FL 32801

• Bird Of Paradise (East End Market): 3201 Corrine Dr, Orlando, FL 32803

• Brass Tap (Mills): 1632 N Mills Ave, Orlando, FL 32803

• Craft & Common 47: E Robinson St #100, Orlando, FL 32801

• Create Your Nature: 1284 N Orange Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789

• Player 1 Video Game Bar: 8562 Palm Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32836

• Sloppy Taco Palace: 4892 S Kirkman Rd, Orlando, FL 32811

• Thirsty Topher: 601 Virginia Dr, Orlando, FL 32803

• Whippoorwill Beer House And Package Store: 2425 E South St, Orlando, FL 32803

• Soho Juice Co: 646 S Orlando Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789

• Shades Of Green Resort: 1950 West Magnolia Palm Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

• Bronson Liquors: 2264 E Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, Kissimmee, FL 34744

• Celery City Craft Beer Garden: 114 S Palmetto Ave, Sanford, FL 32771

• Health Basket: 18040 US-441, Mt Dora, FL 32757

• Partin Liquors: 2334 E Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, Kissimmee, FL 34744

• The Jungle Organic: 2500 Florida A1A, Indialantic, FL 32903

We’re excited to introduce three new spirit brands to Central Florida cocktail enthusiasts: Siempre Tequila, Alpine Distilling and Perfect Vodka. The addition of these distillers expands Sunshine State’s growing portfolio of craft spirits.

“Partnering with each of these spirit brands achieves our most important goal: to satisfy palates throughout Central Florida,” said Chris Larue, president and founder of Sunshine State Distributing. “Siempre, Alpine and Perfect Vodka are all high-quality spirits we think our customers are going to love.”

Siempre Tequila offers both an anejo and blanco tequila, each a beautiful expression of the spirit. The Siempre Anejo is aged for 24 months in American oak barrels, giving the tequila a smooth, sweet flavor, while the un-aged and award-winning Siempre Plata offers notes of citrus and pepper.

From Alpine Distilling comes Persistent Vodka, Summit Gin, Spur Whiskey, Preserve Liqueur, and Park City Special Bourbon Whiskey finished in IPA barrels. This award-winning lineup is influenced by the founder and master distiller’s roots, stretching from Kentucky and Louisiana all the way to Great Britain and Germany, before settling in Park City, Utah, where the distillery is based.

Perfect Vodka lives up to its name with clean flavor and all-natural ingredients. This spirit is five-times distilled using responsibly sourced wheat from the Brie Champagne region of France. Perfect Vodka is gluten-free, non-GMO and ideal for classic cocktails.

We will begin distributing Siempre Tequila, Alpine Distilling and Perfect Vodka this month to bars, restaurants, and retail stores throughout Orange, Osceola, Polk, Brevard, Lake, Seminole, Volusia and Flagler counties.

Sunshine State Distributing will expand Red Hare Brewing’s reach this month, bringing the Georgia-based brewery’s line of “cooler beers” to Central Florida. This will be Red Hare Brewing’s first—and southernmost—expansion from Florida’s panhandle into the state.

“Red Hare Brewing offers beers that are the perfect match to the Florida lifestyle,” said Chris Larue, president and founder of Sunshine State Distributing. “We knew we had to partner with the team there after our first taste of their beer.”

Distribution of Red Hare Brewing is set to begin this month to craft bars, restaurants, and retail stores throughout Orange, Osceola, Polk, Brevard, Lake, Seminole, Volusia, and Flagler counties.

“In addition to the relationships Sunshine State has with their venue partners, we value their dedication to their clients,” said Roger Davis, owner of Red Hare Brewing. “We don’t feel like we’ll get lost in a large portfolio, and we plan to put as many resources behind this partnership as they do.”

Based in Marietta, Georgia, Red Hare Brewing quickly gained popularity after opening their doors in 2011. In 2012, the company became the first craft brewer in Georgia to can their beer. Red Hare Brewing has earned multiple awards and honors for their craft. In 2016 the brewery was named the fourth best at the U.S. Open Beer Championship and brought home five medals. In 2018 the trend continued, and Red Hare Brewing again walked away with numerous medals.

Davis describes the Red Hare Brewing beers as “beers that go in coolers.” They are good for sipping outdoors, at the beach, a tailgate, or on a boat. One such beer is the company’s SPF 50/50 India Pale Radler. Earning a gold medal at the 2016 U.S. Open Beer Championship, SPF 50/50 is one of Red Hare’s decorated offerings—and a crowd favorite in the tap room. This one is as sessionable as it is flavorful, a mix of Gangway IPA and the brewery’s house-made sparkling grapefruit soda.

Central Florida craft beer drinkers can expect to get a taste of Red Hare Brewing this month as Sunshine State ramps up distribution throughout the region.

Sunshine State Distributing has expanded to Volusia and Flagler counties. This move widens our footprint from six Central Florida counties—Orange, Osceola, Polk, Brevard, Lake and Seminole—to include these key East coast areas.

That means, beer drinkers in Volusia and Flagler counties will start to notice an expanded selection of craft beers courtesy of Sunshine State Distributing. The list includes great Florida brands like Hidden Springs, Sailfish Brewing and Angry Chair, as well as national craft brands like Toppling Goliath, Epic Brewing and Dark Horse Brewing.

“Our goal is to get good beer to every craft drinker in Florida,” said Sunshine State Distributing president Chris Larue. “This expansion helps us to not only achieve that, but it gives us the opportunity to show off some of the best craft breweries in the country to more people here in the state.”

Since opening our doors in 2016, our team has curated a wide portfolio of craft breweries and craft distillery partners, many of which have earned awards and recognition for their unique and high-quality products. Each partnership solidifies Sunshine State’s status as a premier distributing company for craft breweries and distilleries in Florida.

Sunshine State Distributing will serve accounts in Volusia and Flagler counties, including restaurants, craft bars and retailers.

We’re hiring a Territory Account Manager to serve these three counties. View the job description here.

Toppling Goliath Brewing Company and Sunshine State Distributing are excited to announce the partnership for distribution of the Toppling Goliath portfolio in Central Florida. Toppling Goliath will kick things off with its first shipment of beer this week, including Pseudo Sue, Dorothy's, Pompeii, Golden Nugget, Hopsmack!, Gamma, Gamma Ray!, Galaxy Dry Hopped Pseudo Sue, Mosaic Dry Hopped Pseudo Sue and Supa' Sumo. 

"Toppling Goliath is coveted by craft beer lovers worldwide. Floridians have been clamoring for their beers for years. We are excited to bring them to Central Florida. Their commitment to not only craft but to Independence makes this a great fit for us,” says Joe Martin of Sunshine State Distributing.

Toppling Goliath Brewing Company was founded in beautiful Decorah, IA, in 2009 as a home-brew operation. In less than a decade it has been named #15 of the top 100 breweries in the world and makes the #1 beer in the world according to RateBeer. Shining in the categories of hop-forward IPAs and flavorful barrel-aged stouts, Toppling Goliath has over 35 beers in its ever-growing portfolio and delights in experimenting with new ingredients.

When asked about this new partnership, president Clark Lewey said, "Sunshine State Distribution has shown us they are the right team to make an impact in central Florida with our brand and we can't wait to start a long partnership with them and new customers.”

ORLANDO, Fla.– Sunshine State Distributing announces their partnership with Angry Chair Brewing. The addition of the Tampa Bay-based brewery expands the distributing company’s growing portfolio of craft beers and spirits to include another award-winning Florida craft brewery.

Last month, Thrillist named Angry Chair Brewing the number one brewery in Florida, a title that puts the brewery among the ranks of Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head, the winning breweries for California and Delaware, respectively. The article cites Angry Chair’s award-winning stouts, incredible artwork and taproom theme nights as a few of the reasons behind the decision.

“We are excited for the opportunity to partner with Angry Chair Brewing,” said Chris Larue, president and founder of Sunshine State Distributing. “Their beer will be a welcome addition to shelves and taps around Central Florida—we can’t wait to get it into the hands of craft beer lovers in the area.”

Since its founding in 2012, Angry Chair has built a reputation for high-quality, sought-after stouts—recently, the brewery experienced unexpected crowds of people waiting overnight for the release of their Barrel-Aged Imperial German Chocolate Cupcake Stout. The brewery is known for creating some of the most highly rated stouts in the world.

“We’re known for our stouts, but we have the flexibility to be creative and change up our beer. To have a distributor be okay with that and encourage it makes this partnership a no-brainer for us,” said Ryan Dowdle, co-founder of Angry Chair Brewing. “We’ve had a lot of requests for our beer in Central Florida and Orlando specifically. We’re excited to have that support and be able to send some beer their way.”

Sunshine State Distributing will distribute a regular line-up of Angry Chair beer, including Nexus Sour IPA, Vodnik Czech Style Pils, Two Pump Chump Porter, and others. Additional rotating beers will be distributed throughout the year based on availability. Sunshine State will begin distribution of Angry Chair Brewing this month to craft bars, restaurants, and retail stores throughout Orange, Osceola, Polk, Brevard, Lake, and Seminole counties.