Spirit is willing for Weeki Wachee couple

Natalie Goff of Weeki Wachee remembers those days when her husband and father used to sit on the porch whiling away the time with a good bourbon.

When her now-deceased father talked with Kevin about the proper making of a good spirit, Natalie said her husband took it to heart and waited for the right opportunity.

It was always a dream of the Goffs to make their own high-quality bourbon, free of additives and spraying.

Now, she said it's time to make their move.

The Goffs will ask planning and zoning commissioners Monday for a special exception use permit to operate a distillery on part of their 40-acre property on 7237 Wild Buck Road, which sits on the cusp of the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area.

As Natalie says, the property is surrounded by woods and there is not a neighbor in site who would be disturbed by the operation.

The couple wants to distill the liquid from an organic rye and age it in oak barrels for a "rich deep flavor which can be enjoyed by discriminating bourbon connoisseurs," according to their application to the planning department.

The Goffs hope to produce 30 gallons per month, totaling some 500 bottles per year.

The production will be limited to 3 days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The spirit will be stored for aging for up to seven months in the barrels.

The property is zoned agricultural and they have designated "green" acres for future rye production. They plan to use the discarded mash as a supplemental food for their cattle.

There is a barb wire fence around the property and heavy duty security locks and surveillance cameras.

The Goffs do not plan to sell the product from their property. Instead, a supplier will distribute the organic bourbon to local stores.

The still will be housed in a barn which, the Goffs said, is "in excellent condition with concrete floors, proper lighting and well-ventilated."

The still is a freestanding 60-gallon copper structure "made from a company in Kentucky with a long history of creating the best stills in the world," the Goffs said in their letter.

Natalie Goff said she is not holding her breath on this venture. She realizes how time-consuming and expensive this operation would be, even if she obtains P&Z permission.

There are strict state and federal guidelines and costly permits to obtain and she is not sure he and her husband are up to it.

But they plan to give it a shot, she said.

The secret of good bourbon, she said, is in the ingredients.

"We're all new at this but apparently the higher quality of the barley or rye – you want it to be as fresh as possible," she said. "It's not sprayed, no additives. We have good rich soil. We pride ourselves on making really good compost."

If successful, Natalie Goff said she and her husband don't plan on mass producing the still-unnamed bourbon label.

She'd be satisfied to sell it in a few local stores.

Such an operation is not even listed in the county's land development regulations so staffers determined the closest existing use would be a winery.

Considering the uses are similar in character, a distillery is considered an allowable use in the agricultural district with the approval of a special exception use permit," staffers said.

County staff is recommended approval, subject to the applicant obtaining all local, state and federal permits and an assurance that the facility will not be open to the public.

Planning and zoning commissioners will consider the Goffs' request during their meeting which begins at 9 a.m. Monday at the Hernando County Government Center, 20 North Main St. in downtown Brooksville.

To view the entire agenda, visit

http://hernandocountyfl.iqm2.com/citizens/