Njoy Spirits Distillery Reviews

Be patient, it's a bit of a drive thru the state park. It's like a little oasis. Makes for a pleasant day trip. I especially liked their whiskey while my husband thought the "shine" was pretty good. The tour was interesting, but he needs to slow down a little bit. Likewise with the tasting. A lovely young couple doing it all. I applaud their initiative in creating a fun vibe amid a beautiful setting.

First things first - Google Maps is useless for finding this place. It tried to take us through a gated community, and then it tried another route that led through the same gated community. Eventually, it led us to the entrance to Chassahowitzka Refuge north of Weeki Wachee, on the west side of US 19. Once you get there, it is a 5 mile drive on a rough gravel road to the distillery. It was worth the trip. This appears to be something of a small, mom and pop operation, and that's what made it neat. We got a quick tour, led by pop, and then mom let us taste the product. There are three options: rye whiskey, rye moonshine, and rum. They grow their own sugarcane and some of the rye (the rest is bought from a local farmer). All of them are good, and the prices were not crazy compared to what I have seen in other micro-distilleries ($60 for a bottle of very good rye whiskey). I will go back, but next time I will take a more appropriate vehicle (AWD SUV) and bring a picnic and plan to stay a bit longer. They have a bar on site and you can purchase beer - nothing they've made themselves, as that's not their business, but the setting (in the woods in the middle of nowhere) suggests having a beer and enjoying the place a bit.

Came home with a bottle of whiskey, a bottle of shine and a chocolate bourbon cake after a personal (three of us and the owners) tour! Saw a billboard the day before our visit and happened to be free the next afternoon. What an authentic experience! You have to drive through a wildlife refuge (you don't have to pay) and the route is well-marked. An organic farm, growing everything for their award winning (see my pics) whiskey and rum, they grow their own sugar cane and rye! Unreal. Beautiful set-up and grounds. The products are between $45-$60 and up at the time of this review. We loved our time here - owners Natalie and Kevin, along with welcome committee Rummer (dog) are a real treat. We eill be back and are telling all of our friends!

So I wanted to find out what was at the end of a very long limerock road. Five miles were not that bumpy, but limerock dust trailed behind every vehicle and left the car coated. So what! Based on a couple of small signs, I expected to find the historical remnants of an old moonshine distillery and was amazed to find a gorgeous, clean and very well maintained real Florida agricultural business in the middle of the sparse woods of the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management area. Quality agriculture business will delight you with samples of spirits - of course they are small, you wouldn't want to drive back with a buzz, yet they give you a great taste of what you can purchase. Several other unusual gifts are available like coffee roasted after having soaked in spirits, candies filled with spirits, mermaid glasses, t-shirts and so on. There is an outdoor area to sit and enjoy the surroundings, have some beer or soda, just chill for a while and soak in the ambience of the Florida outdoors.

Found this place while researching things to do in Brooksville on TripAdvisor! Heed the NJoy Spirits website on how to get here!
Don’t let the 5 mile drive through the unscenic forest fool you. The payoff is a quaint, small distillery in a beautiful setting! They grow their own sugar cane for their rum and grow most of their own rye with the remainder sourced from local Florida rye growers for their Wild Buck Rye!
Nice outdoor setting to enjoy the rye or one of several beers on tap. Food is not available, so on our next visit, we’ll bring our own picnic lunch!

After driving 5 miles down a sand/dirt road at 15 to 20 mph what a disappointment, web site taught that for $10 you get to tour the facility and learn how they make the rum and whiskey and then end with tastings....so far from the truth!!!!!!! There isn't a guided tour its go threw a very small barn and read the 3 to four signs that state what the equipment is no one to ask question or tell you anything. Then for the the tasting its only 2 and each are less the 18 of a teaspoon not a taste. They go on to tell you what you can mix the rum/wiskey in but you can't drink anything on the grounds )dont know why because you sure would be sober by the time you drive out on the horrible road). They also said there was to be live entertainment but that was also not true. Beer, if you want a beer you can buy that and drink it but sorry no tasting on that! Its very ill organized and had to ask the bar tender where to go and she blew us off till she was done cleaning (can't work and talk at the same time I guess) We drove 1 1/2 to get to this place which looked very nice on their web site and we stayed exactly 32 minutes. My advice is dont go! I was never so misled about a place, and was so embarrassed and apologized to my guests for not reading the reviews.

We visited here with another couple back in January. The tour was given by one of the owners and really was so informative. His wife did the tasting and was also informative (and delicious). The grounds are beautiful and perfect for a picnic. They are warm, interesting people and it shows. Very impressed that they grow their own ingredients for their product. Would definitely go again.

The ride out will seem long but its really there and worth the 5 mile ride! The ride is beautiful and so is the farm! This is the most well-run business Ive ever seen. Virtually everything is done on the property. Animals, a working distillery, a tiki bar and even a retired helicopter bar! The family and staff are warm and friendly and it was the best surprise trip we've had in a while! I highly recommend!!! Live music and lots of space for large and small groups! The hands on approach is refreshing! Loved it!!!!

This is such a hidden gem. Ran by a husband and wife team who do such an excellent job together. Awesome rum and whiskey. You can do tours and tastings.

the quaint little setup, they have here but thinking the tour was free ,,,, then you get to the end and surprise, it costs money! then if you go to their little bar beware credit cards only no cash......so we lost out there. so in other words bring a credit card with you!

To get to the distillery, you must enter thru the wildlife management area entrance and then travel several miles south thru the forest. The distillery is on a farm and the rum and whiskey are very good.

My wife and I took the turn to drive down the 5 mile road without much expectation but then found an oasis consisting of manicured grounds, beautiful scenery, and a fantastic distillery. Its everything everyone has written in previous reviews and we are anxious to return. There are lots of shout outs to the owners (and well deserved) but we'd like to give one to the new server, Sara, who was our first contact. She was very friendly and anxious to tell us some history of how the place came to be. She's an asset to the company. This is definitely a place we'll bring family and friends when they visit us. Make the drive - you won't be disappointed. And the whiskey is DELICIOUS!

Awesome place. The road to it is not so good. But its worth it. The beer tender is very cool and happy b day. They need a fan mister for the bar area for customer and beer tender. All the spirits are first class. Also found out they will start serving h dogs and hamburgers. Good times. Be generous to the beer tender.

The whiskey and rum that they sell is very delicious. The distillery is back a 5 mile long extremely bumpy road but it is well worth the ride back to it. Their products are delicious and the setting is gorgeous. I would highly recommend stopping if you are in the area. They also have beer and food for those people that dont like whiskey or rum.

First, this place is in the middle of nowhere. Be prepared to drive down dirt roads that don’t look like they go anywhere, just trust the GPS. When you do arrive, it is beautiful. They have horses around which add to the ambiance. The tasting and tour is $8 per person and waived if you buy a bottle. The distillery is very very small so you don’t NEED to tour it. The whiskey is the best, we bought two bottles. The rum is pretty good if you’re a rum lover, very intense flavor. They have an outside bar area if you decide not to do the tasting and tour and just want to buy full drinks and food. Overall a very pretty place with kind people, but very out of the way.

Had read some reviews on NJoy and decided to give it a try. It’s a little bit of drive down a dirt road but totally worth it. It’s like an oasis in the middle of nowhere. The owners are over the top nice! Very personable and informative tour and tasting. I definitely recommend a stop here!!

This is certainly worth a trip. Beautiful Ranch out in the middle of a State Forest. Take some snacks or a picnic basket with you. You can taste the Whiskey, Rum & Shine they make from all organic ingredients. And of course buy some. They have a nice outside bar with different wines, domestic and craft beers. Great outside seating areas to enjoy a drink or 2 and socialize. Horses and Donkey to pet it you'd like. It's a long bumpy 5 mile drive on a gravel road off hwy 19. We almost turned around but persisted and made it. Very happy we did and plan on going back.

This wonderful hidden gem 5 miles into the CHASSOWITZKA wildlife area is a beauty. What a way to spend a few hours enjoying yourself. They offer tours and have a great tiki bar that serves craft beers , sangrias and other beverages. We went on a Saturday and they had an awesome food truck and music. What a great day. Weather was perfect. Great place to take guests and friends. The drive out is also part of the experience.

We did the eight dollar tasting and when the owner poured, it was the amount of what could be soaked up on a Qtip! I wanted to take a picture and show it to our Tennessee friends, this place wouldn’t make it in Tennessee or Kentucky! I guess people in Florida will pay for sub par alcohol. I will never recommend this place!

This place is an AWESOME place for everyone
It has something for everyone
Whiskey - Rum - Beer - sangria
Soft drinks
Food
Music
Games
Horses

This is a MUST DO Visit

Plan for extra time…….you won’t want to leave.

DO NOT MISS this wonderful farm/distillery. Spend the afternoon in this well cared-for outdoor space. Open on Sat/Sun, check social media for food trucks, music and special events. Fun lawn games are available for you to enjoy with your full-bar service beverage. Don't miss the distillery tour and purchase of whiskey, rum and other goodies. It was a very pleasant afternoon and I cannot wait to return!

Very nice people and the rum and whiskey were smooth and very tasty. It is definitely worth heading over there.

We discovered Florida Mermaid Rum and Buck Wild Whiskey when the owner’s wife was at the liquor store on base at MacDill. We loved it, so we decided to pay a visit to the distillery. It was well worth the drive (it is literally on the middle of nowhere), beautiful and impressive. You will want to take some food, have a picnic, and hang out. Kevin, the owner, gave us the grand tour and showed us the whole process. We found that they grow their own rye, sugarcane, and honey, so this stuff is pure home grown. We left with some awesome souvenirs, including honey, glasses, t-shirts and Mermaid Rum.

Visiting this distillery did it disappoint. We were welcomed by Natalie and Kevin. They have a magnificent piece of property where they’ve built this distillery. Natalie took her time and gave us a great tour. They are true to the craft of whiskey and rum making and i admire how they use the land as their resources. They grow their own sugar cane, filter the rain water, make their own honey...they’ve built this beautiful place with their own hands. They have a great story and to top it off, they make delicious whiskey and rum. It’s in the middle of 40,000 acres and it’s a beautiful drive to get there. It’s way out there, don’t rely on GPS as you’ll likely get lost. Go to their website and look at the map. I posted it here too. If you plan on visiting during the week, call to make a reservation. Otherwise, they’ll welcome you from 10-3 on weekends. Can’t wait to go back.

Google can't even get u there...but the Security guard @ the neighborhood it takes u to is super cool nice and will hand u a map...how cool is that....once u get there...u are welcomed directly from the owners....they r hands on as hands on can get...they give u a tour...explain the process...answer all questions...then u get to sample...and of course...I'm pretty confident ur gonna buy something cuz it is a really cool experience and u just wanna and gotta...heck...they even have a bar area there...haven't been there yet 4 one of their events but it is on my bucket list...this is a must....u will not b dissapointed...

Don’t let the long, gravel road through the wildlife preserve deter you from going. The route to this place is a little unconventional but it’s WELL worth the trek. What a wonderful place. Great place to hang out, enjoy some drinks and taste some whiskey, rum and moonshine (all excellent)!

Total waste of time unless you go on a Saturday or Sunday. They need to put up a notice at the Wildlife Management entrance advising everyone that they are only open on weekends. We drove out the 5 miles and were greeted by a locked gate !

A group of 5 visited this distillery. We had to drive down a LONG, 5 mile dirt road, very bumpy to get to the distillery. We were told of an $8 fee for the tour and "tasting" , which they said was recently implemented. This was because "hunters were coming to taste and never buy". We got a short tour, which was interesting, but nothing was going on at the time, production-wise. Then we went to the tasting room. We were given tiny, tiny samples of 3 liquors, and a cocktail. The tastes were literally as small as Natalie could pour into the tiny cups.....seriously, just drops. My husband wanted his 2nd taste to be whiskey again, instead of rum, but Natalie said she could not do that. Really? Why not? She is the owner!

The deal was, the tasting fee of $8 was taken off if you purchased a bottle. We purchased a bottle $60, and 2 glasses at $10 each. She took off only one tasting fee for us. I spent $93, including the $8. The others bought bottles, a cake, glasses etc. Spent hundreds. But she charged 3 $8 fees, for 5 of us.

We felt this was ridiculous and petty, and we shouldnt have to pay to taste, especially when you spend that much.

The place was very cute, the whiskey was good, but that fee totally turned us sour. In all fairness, we were told this, but we were already there, so we did the tour and taste.

In conclusion, the farm was really cute, the people nice, but $8 wasn't worth it, especially considering the bumpy, 5 mile dirt road . Don't go in a new car, if you are fussy, as it gets very bumpy and car will get dirty.

We found this distillery while exploring the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area with our two dogs and were happy to learn that we could bring our dogs in with us as long as they remained on leash. We got in, sat down, ordered a drink and the property dog, Rummer, came in to greet our dogs. Off leash and unsupervised. They did fine, the bartender kept telling Rummer to “behave” so we grabbed our drinks to walk around and give him some space. Not even 5 minutes later did Rummer come back to our dogs and attacked our lab Cliff, one employee kind of just sat back and watched. Once Rummer left Cliff alone he turned towards our other dog Marley, stiff and growling walking towards her. If it wasn’t for my girlfriend putting her self in between them he would’ve attacked her too. After all of this an employee finally grabbed Rummer by the collar. To our surprise though it wasn’t to put him up or on leash, we were told to go by the grass because Rummer was territorial. Rummer was then let go as we were walking away, again. OFFLEASH & UNSUPERVISED. Decided the best option would be to put our dogs in the car and to leave. Didn’t get a chance to try any of the spirits or the property, unfortunately the aggressive dog and poorly behaved employees left a bad taste in my mouth. If your dog is aggressive and territorial, wouldn’t it be the best option to not allow him to roam freely, or just not allow other dogs on the property!??? 0/10

Such a sweet hidden distillery. Made from 100% Florida supplies in the whiskey. Everything is absolutely gorgeous, would love to get married there. Immaculately clean and pristine grounds. Only pointer would maybe have more signage because we ambled around for 10+ minutes before someone spoke to us and how the tour worked. Purchased rum to offset tour costs. Just a joy!

A long winding road in the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management area leads you NJoy Spririts Distillery.. it is a lush oasis in the middle of the woodlands. The owners are welcoming and gracious giving everyone a tour and a taste. I would highly recommend a visit

Wow, maybe the best distillery ANYWHERE. We got to it late, just before their closing at 3:00 PM but Natalie was so gracious and gave us the tour. An amazing property where they grow their own Rye and Sugar Cane and control the process to produce outstanding whisky (Wild Buck), Rum (Mermaid) and Moonshine (Rise-In-Shine). Higher proof than competitors and a resulting better taste than ANY whiskey, rum or shine than I have EVER tasted. Property can accommodate special events like weddings, etc. in a beautiful setting. Enter through the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area with no need to pay admission at that entrance. Great folks making GREAT spirits!! Thanks so much Natalie!!!!!!!

In the middle of the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area, down a long gravel road you arrive at NJoy Distillery. It's like arriving in Paradise in the middle of nowhere. The owners Natalie Joy and Kevin are TOTALLY committed and driven by passion to produce a fantastic Rye Whiskey called "Wild Buck" and a rum called, "Mermaid Rum", both 100 Proof. They use rainwater, rye grain some of which they grown themselves or from local source farmers and sugarcane, again they grow their own or local source. The products have absolutely no additives is pure with a great taste and finish. The grounds around the distillery has beautiful landscaping, plants and ponds.The building are very kept and maintained. You can see "PRIDE" everywhere. I thought is very interesting learning, neither one has visited another distillery anywhere to get ideas. Everything was built and processed with their own ingenuity. Definitely a must stop for the Whiskey Connoisseur.

$8 each for a short tour (which was very interesting) and less than a thimbleful of a couple whiskeys and a rum for your $ .... the setting is nice but money for tour and "tasting" not really worth it to us. You get your $8 back if you buy a bottle of whiskey for $65.
Go, enjoy a drink at the outside bar, grab a hot dog or whatever truck they have that day and enjoy the beautiful place.
Go on the tour but skip the tasting and save your$ for a real drink at the bar. The folks are friendly and it's a nice Sunday drive!

It is a Beautiful spot to hang out, have some adult beverages and enjoy the music and scenery. The Mermaid Rum is delicious! Worth the drive down the long road

The bartender was great, kind and was kept saying sorry. We arrived with our service dog, Rummer met us and was so well behaved. She was great! Only dogs allowed are service dogs and there were two service dogs and Rummer what a sweet dog.

The area is quite sweet, the donkey and horse were great to watch. Good thing for corn hole and mini golf but only for so long. Hot dog and small packages of chips and beer is there to help the time pass. We were informed it would be an hour wait, there was enough to cover that time but not over two hours.

The set up was not great, one staff down, and when asked why not more, got told the owners do the tour and tasting shop. Well with one of them down the world was upside down. The wait was two hours for the tour and tasting. And the normal eight in a group didn't occur we were 22. Well with covid many of us didn't feel great with that number in such a small area. It's too bad they don't have a B plan for when one of the owners can't be there.
During the tour the owner stopped the tour talk to micro mange the one employee, the lovely bar tender. What a disappointment she doesn't even trust her only other staff member.

The cost is 8 dollars for the tour and taste room, but the cost is waived if you purchase one of their products.

What a waste of time, due to poor staffing numbers.

Natalie and Kevin do a great job of touring and explaining how this craft distillery operates. And, there are samples! Very educational.

I will start with the Positives. The grounds are beautiful and very well maintained. Ok now for the down side. We were not sure if we were going the correct way because the road took us down a dirt road for 15 mins and we were pleasantly surprised once we got there (with the look of the property) We did the $10.00 tasting and unfortunately it was very disappointing.
We got to taste their Whiskey, Rum and Moonshine well I would not say taste because the drop of liquor could not soak up a piece of paper and it was diluted with a tiny piece of ice. The owner said drink it quick before it waters it down but the ice melted going from the ice bucket to the itsy bitsy cup. Our wishes were to fill the cup more to wet the palate and if you did not drink 1 of the options they should offer what you like to drink.

Unfortunately we did not purchase a bottle because we wanted to have a true taste.

Our recommendations give better tastings and if someone does not drink rum for example offer the whiskey or moonshine visa vera.

Wonderful peaceful place with great people and exceptional rye whiskey. Enjoyed our visit on a quiet Sunday afternoon. Interesting drive out to the location.