Today we’d like to introduce you to David Cohen.
Hi David, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m the President and Head Distiller at Manifest Distilling in Jacksonville, Florida, and spend most of my time with the day-to-day operations at the distillery. Manifest opened in 2015 and its products are currently distributed in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, NY, IL, as well as nationwide through online retailers. David also serves as President of the Florida Craft Spirits Association, the first industry supported non-profit established to promote the craft spirits industry throughout the state. With a long family history in hospitality, beginning in the early 1940s in the Caribbean, my involvement in the spirits industry wasn’t a stretch. Prior to founding Manifest, I completed an internship with Kentucky Artisan Distillers and earned a certificate from The Siebel Institute of Technology for Craft Distilling and Operation. Before that, I was responsible for opening or operating several companies, from running a production company in Los Angeles to being the Creative Director and Vice President of an editorial and publishing company. I live in Jacksonville with my wife, Nina, and three children, Abraham, Frankie and Charlie. With any leftover free time, you can find me running or cycling through Jacksonville.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Smooth is not how I’d describe it. We were very well prepared in opening our doors almost six years ago. No matter how prepared you think you are, it’s really challenging to prepare for how challenging and crowded the market is. It’s easy to make an audience within your space, but to be competitive in the larger market takes relentless tenacity, financial resources and time.
As you know, we’re big fans of Manifest Distilling. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Manifest Distilling is a full-scale organic distillery, meaning we make multiple products including Vodkas, Gins, Whiskeys and liqueurs. Our most popular items are our Gins, Citrus Vodka and newly released Bourbon. Our differentiator is the way we approach making our spirits. Each spirit is thoughtfully designed to be excellent within its category, so it can stand alone in a sea of others and stand apart. We are a team of purists that looks at each category by itself to create something truly singular and unique but carry a large breadth of flavor.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
As a team of mostly natives, we are incredibly proud to be Jacksonville owned and operated. To make an impact in an area of downtown that was not preciously popular was not a decision we took lightly. They are the city’s pride for itself is like none I’ve experienced in any other major, or minor market. That would be the city’s biggest asset, in my opinion. What I like least is the city and its inhabitants to take risks. Complacency and apathy have plagued many parts of Jacksonville for decades and it only, just now, in the past five years does it feel like we are crawling out of that pattern.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: manifestdistilling.com
- Instagram: @manifestdistilling
- Facebook: @manifestdistilling
