New Winter Park-based blending house, Forward/Slash (Instagram), is scheduled to open on April 1.
The new blending house, which we first told you about HERE in September 2022, was built out in a former midcentury warehouse at 650 S. Capen Avenue [GMap] into an expansive distillery that will feature spirits from across the country that will be blended on-site.
The concept is led by Tim Bradstreet of Rusty Spoon fame and Michael Buffa, the founder of Orlando Whiskey Society and Buffa Bittering company.
“We’re selecting aged American Whiskeys from all across the country from independent
farmers and distillers and blending these incredible barrels here at our facility to create a
truly unique product. We’re 100% transparent in who and where we source our whiskeys and
other spirits from, giving the customer as much information as possible while
simultaneously telling the story of the people who made the distillate. We tell their story
through the art of blending.Blending is an artform, it is not easy, especially when it
– TIM BRADSTREET
comes to working with different mash bills from different distilleries. You have to find that
perfect balance and nuance in the blend so that each part can be highlighted and bring
character to the final product. Like a musician playing an instrument in an orchestra.”
With the passing of recent Florida legislation in 2021, distilleries like FORWARD/SLASH can
now sell spirits for direct consumption as a tasting or in a cocktail in their tasting rooms.
FORWARD/SLASH will open its doors at 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 1 and the celebration will
continue through their normal operating hours until 11 p.m.
Regular bar and tasting lounge hours will be Wednesday and Thursday from 4-10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4-11 p.m.
