Little River Distillery Opens New Facility in Miami

The 22,000-square-foot site features a tasting room, speakeasy, and local rum production.

Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Cocktails

Bold vector editorial illustration of a copper distillery pot and wooden rum barrel, representing local spirit production.
Little River Distillery has launched a 22,000-square-foot production facility in Miami, utilizing South Florida's climate to enhance their rum aging process. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Little River Distillery has officially opened a new production facility in Miami located at 73 NW 71st St. The expansive site incorporates an aging house, a lab, and two bars, offering guests a dedicated tasting room and speakeasy experience.

Why it matters

The facility leverages South Florida heat to mirror Caribbean climate conditions, which is essential for the distillery’s rum aging process. By producing spirits locally, the company aims to utilize regional conditions to shape the flavor profiles of their aged rums.

The 22,000-square-foot production space utilizes French or Spanish oak barrels to age rum for one, three, and eight years. All spirits produced on-site are crafted without added sugar.

The players

Little River Distillery

An artisanal spirits producer that has established a major manufacturing and tasting presence in the Miami area.

The details

Distillers at the new site employ techniques to clarify and distill cocktails, including their espresso martini. The process integrates aging, laboratory testing, and retail service within a single location to streamline operations.

Timeline

  1. October 16, 2026: Official article publication date.

Culture Shift

The distillery follows the tropical aging rum production model by using the Miami climate to accelerate maturation in a manner typically seen in Caribbean operations. This shift reflects a growing trend of craft spirit producers seeking specific regional environments to differentiate their aging processes.

Residents and visitors can now access a new venue featuring a tasting room and speakeasy at the 73 NW 71st St facility. The opening provides a new destination for those interested in experiencing spirits aged and distilled directly within the city.

The takeaway

The use of local heat to age spirits shows how micro-climates can influence the character of craft alcohol. Consumers looking for pure rum profiles can benefit from the distillery's commitment to avoiding added sugars in their aging process.

Further reading

Discover more about the evolving local beverage scene in our Cocktails section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale.

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