Forward Slash Distillery & Blending House — Restaurant in Winter Park

I rarely feel compelled to write reviews unless I’ve been poorly treated or a place is deserving a 5-star review due to expert, perfect service. Everything in between is kind of just meh for me. So this review is for a company that I knew nothing about before last night but that after my experience (and yes, I’ll be using that word a lot because this was a great experience!) with them has more than earned a 5-star. They are uniquely deserving so I will endeavor to give them the highest praise I can… My wife gave me what was probably the best birthday gift I’ve ever received from her (and I’m hard to shop for!) last night, not only because of what it was, but because of how expertly it was executed— Everything was perfect. I came in blind, not knowing what to expect or what was coming. We got to spend 2 hours at F/S with Tim, one of the 2 owner/founder/master-blenders of F/S where he provided an experience I won’t forget, a high-end cocktail/alcohol-lovers dream where we were treated like royalty, every element thoughtfully planned and executed. It started with drinks, each of us getting to select any cocktails we desired from their bar menu before the private tour/experience began. I didn’t know it at the time but all their cocktails are made with their blended F/S bottles, which at the time I had little appreciation for, an error in ignorance. But from the first sips we knew this place was special, as good or better than even the best bars we’ve tried in NYC (think D&C, Attaboy, Nothing Really Matters, etc). They are expertly crafted, perfectly balanced with “farm to glass” ingredients and probably some love and pride of effort thrown in as well. Cocktails in hand, we were then escorted by our knowledgeable host back to their new private event space (we’ll have to figure out how to get invited to one of their events!) and then on to their distillery and blending areas where Tim expertly and winsomely taught us about what they do at F/S. I won’t try to tell you their story here on their behalf but it’s a story worth telling, worth hearing, worth understanding why they are focused primarily on blending vs distilling and why you (and me!) are better off for it. And through all this it’s clear that Tim both loves what he’s doing and is very good at it and that his love is infectious — it was hard not to get caught up with him! We were then taken to their private lab for a unique tasting experience. Tim taught us the science of whiskey tasting, the history of what we were drinking and, how each limited-run F/S bottle came together. Our tasting flight was a combination of individual elements sourced for F/S and then the F/S offerings themselves which are fantastic, their sum greater than the parts which were already pretty great. There were a few more surprises thrown in but I won’t give them away but they all combined to make this the most incredible experience deserving of the highest praise I can offer. I bought my first bottle of F/S last night, but I’m expecting many more to come. (let’s be honest I needed a reason to come back soon!) Highly, highly recommended. I will be back soon and often.

Update: F/S continues to deliver. I’ve been back many times and the quality experience they consistently deliver always leaves you feeling like this...

What an absolute hoot and holler of a time. Took my brother for his birthday to do the distillery tour and it was worth every cent. The owners were informative without being elitist, you could hear the passion in the way they explained every step of the process of making blended spirits, and the whole time made us feel like we were friends who just stopped by to hang out.

Owner Michael did a great job on the tour and explaining the new space they are working on opening up. Learning more about the still for refinement and the barrels they order the whiskey and other spirits in was really cool. There was no question we asked that wasn’t met with enthusiasm and a clear answer.

Owner Tim was our tasting guide after the tour and what an absolute treat it was to sit with him and learn more about the sprits they blend and the partner distilleries that they use and why they chose them for specific blends. When my husband mentioned Why he stays away from clear rum (it’s just nasty sugar water) Tim got excited and ran off to grab their limited run clear rum. One taste and we knew we would be leaving with two bottles to make mojitos at home with! The whole time we were in the tasting room it felt like we were chilling out with an old friend. What a comfortable and down right delightful time.

As we were on our way out the staff were laughing with guests and each other. The entire atmosphere of the bar was elegant yet friendly. I look forward to the next time my husband and I visit, which will...

I recently visited this place and it had a lot going for it: great drinks, friendly staff, and a cozy atmosphere. However, there was one thing missing that would have taken the experience to the next level: the shark from "Deep Blue Sea."

Now, I know that might sound strange, but hear me out. Imagine sipping on a perfectly crafted cocktail while a massive, genetically engineered shark circles around the bar's giant aquarium tank. The thrill of seeing such a fearsome predator up close would add an unforgettable element of excitement to any night out.

Of course, I understand that having a live shark on display might not be the most practical or humane idea. But perhaps the bar could install a realistic animatronic shark that could move and even "attack" unsuspecting patrons (safely, of course). Or, they could project images of sharks swimming on the walls and ceiling to create a more immersive atmosphere.

All in all, I loved the bar's vibe and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good time. But if they ever decide to add a shark to the mix, I'd be the first in line to...