Big Cypress Distillery, Miami

Cousins Fernando Plata and Mark Graham and in-law Danny Garo were enjoying some whiskey one evening when a question arose: why doesn't Miami have more distilleries? Armed with little more than a self-taught distiller and boundless determination, they set out to create Big Cypress Distillery.

The trio now works to distill spirits with a Miami flair. They're careful about where they source their ingredients, like the organic molasses used in the rum. And they're open with their process, too—no mystery ingredients or old family secrets, with every recipe available to the public.

Read on to learn more about Big Cypress Distillery's flagship spirits:

• Magic City Gin: The first gin to be distilled in Miami, Magic City boasts eleven botanicals that are combined with the liquor using a vapor infusion process for a semi-dry gin with a smooth, light body (45% ABV)

• Hell's Bay Rum: Aged in American oak barrels, this Spanish-style dry rum has notes of buttered caramel, smoky charred oak, and spice (45% ABV)