Florida Caribbean Distillers (FCD)
Polk County is home to Florida Caribbean Distillers (also historically known as Florida Distillers), which is located in Lake Alfred, Florida.
Key Facts & Overview
- Scale & Capacity: Florida Caribbean Distillers operates major distillation, blending, and bottling facilities in Polk County (Lake Alfred and Auburndale) and has long been recognized as the largest producer of rum in the continental United States.
- History: Founded in 1943, the company originally distilled citrus products before evolving into a major national production hub for bulk spirits, ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages, and private-label rums.
- Production Operations:
- Large-capacity column stills capable of producing massive volumes of rum and neutral spirits daily.
- Major contract manufacturing and co-packing services for international brand owners, retailers, and national spirit labels.
- Expansive barrel-aging warehouses and high-speed bottling lines.
- Broader Operations: Beyond their central hub in Lake Alfred, the company maintains related processing and storage footprint across Central Florida (along with historical ties to distillery operations in Puerto Rico, bridging Caribbean rum traditions with U.S. domestic manufacturing).
Local Craft Distilleries in Polk County
While Florida Caribbean Distillers handles large-scale industrial and private-label rum production, Polk County is also home to local craft rum distillers, such as Lugo’s Craft Distillery in Lakeland, which specializes in artisan, small-batch Puerto Rican-style rum and pitorro.
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