St. Petersburg Distillery in St. Petersburg, Florida, names Clara Robbins as its new Master Distiller. Robbins is no stranger to the Sunshine State as she previously spent four years at St. Petersburg Distillery as a gin distiller and quality manager.
Robbins distilling career began in 2018 at Castle & Key Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, where she initially worked with bourbon before being promoted to oversee production of the distillery’s vodka and gin. During that time, she also completed specialized training and became a certified Gin Specialist.
A rising leader in the craft spirits world, Robbins will lead all aspects of production at the St. Petersburg-based distillery, overseeing ingredient selection, fermentation, distillation, maturation, and blending while guiding the future direction of the brand’s award-winning spirits.
Robbins is no stranger to St. Petersburg Distillery having previously helping to develop several of the company’s most celebrated spirits, including Tropical Gin, which earned Double Gold honors and was named among the Top 5 Gins of the Year.
“We are thrilled to welcome Clara back home to St. Petersburg Distillery as our Master Distiller,” said Evan Brownstein, CEO of St. Petersburg Distillery. “Her creativity, combined with her strong scientific background and deep understanding of the craft, makes her an extraordinary talent. We’re excited to see her shape the next chapter of our spirits.”
Robbins brings a distinctive mix of technical expertise and creative instincts to the role. She graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical and Biological Engineering and an associate’s degree in mathematics. Early in her career, she worked in a medical laboratory while brewing beer on the side before being trained as a head brewer.
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After relocating to Florida, Robbins joined the St. Petersburg Distillery team, where she quickly established herself as a key contributor to the brand’s product development and quality standards.
Beyond the distillery floor, Robbins has gained national attention for her craft. She appeared on the Discovery Channel series “Moonshiners: Master Distiller,” ultimately winning the competition and further cementing her reputation as an innovative and skilled distiller.
Florida’s First Female Master Distiller
Most recently, Robbins partnered with a brewery to launch Good Liquid Distilling Company, expanding her work into brewing while continuing to explore new approaches to spirits production. In that role, she was named Master Distiller in October 2022, becoming the first woman in Florida to hold the title.
Now returning to St. Petersburg Distillery in a leadership role, Robbins will guide the distillery’s production program while continuing to develop distinctive spirits rooted in craftsmanship and creativity.
Founded in 2014, St. Petersburg Distillery is a forward-thinking distillery known for its premium handcrafted spirits. With a mission to bring people together and make genuine connections, they are redefining the distillery experience through innovation and a commitment to the community.
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