FALL 2021: 55
The story of Brevard’s first
spirits distillery doesn’t
include 100-year-old
recipes, family ties or even
years of experience in the industry.
But it is one of diligence,
perseverance and meticulous
attention to detail — something
owner and founder Ron Foleno
strives daily to perfect.
Oceanside Distillery, just minutes
south of the port and State Road
528 on West Central Boulevard in
Cape Canaveral, started as a dream
for longtime Brevard residents the
Foleno brothers.
They wanted to make craft spirits
that would be unique to the area
and could be created by tapping into
the very best regional ingredients,
using the best oak barrels and
utilizing the industry’s most
advanced distilling equipment and
techniques.
In February 2020, after nearly
three years plus of research,
training, planning and eventually
constructing, the dream project was
set to open.
PLANS PUT ON HOLD
However, because of the pandemic,
and, sadly, the death of Foleno’s
brother and partner, Lorenzo,
the opening was delayed. Foleno,
who has more than 30 years
of commercial construction
experience, began the venture
in 2018 and officially opened the
distillery on May 27.
Driven to continue his dream, he
not only designed and furnished
the facility but did most of the work
himself. He even created the design
for the bottle labels.
“This project is like my second
career and my new responsibilities
of wearing many hats as the
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