A new 45-seat speakeasy opens tonight at St. Petersburg Distillery in the Warehouse Arts District | St. Petersburg Distillery

St. Petersburg Distillery is expanding into the evening hours with a new speakeasy inside its Warehouse Arts District campus.

Tucked inside the distillery’s industrial warehouse at 800 31st Street South, a secluded second-floor space has been reworked into an intimate, 45-seat speakeasy that opens today at 6 p.m.

“This is when people want to come together and socialize, from six o’clock to midnight,” CEO Evan Brownstein said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

The space, called 31 South, sits above the distillery’s production floor, where guests typically end their tours.

What was once a simple tasting area has been redesigned into a swanky lounge with dim mood lighting, vintage furnishings, a mix of gold and green accents, and jazz music playing overhead.

“The tours are all about educating our guests. We want this space to be where they can socialize and relax,” Brownstein said. “It’ll be a hidden gem within a hidden gem.”

The redesign was led by marketing coordinator Meridian Joy-Piper and VP of Operations Kiley Judge, who sourced much of the furniture and decor locally and incorporated historic photos throughout the space.

The new swanky speakeasy lounge is decorated with dim mood lighting, vintage furnishings, a mix of gold and green accents, and jazz music playing overhead | St. Petersburg Distillery

The cocktail menu combines both classic and more contemporary flavors built around the distillery’s house-made spirits.

The menu offers nine cocktails, such as a matcha latte martini, an elderflower lemon drop, and a coconut daiquiri.

Tippler’s Espresso Martini combines Banyan Reserve vodka with locally roasted coffee, house-made spiced vanilla syrup, and a Tippler’s orange cold foam, finished with cocoa and a dark chocolate truffle.

The Maple Old Fashioned takes a more traditional route, using Old St. Pete Sunshine Whiskey with real maple syrup and house-made bitters.

Guests can also opt for four- or six-flight tastings of the distillery’s whiskey, vodka, gin, and rum.

As for food, the distillery is working with chef Johnathan Rodriguez, formerly of Tampa’s Sal Y Mar, to develop a menu of small plates to complement the cocktail program.

The speakeasy will operate Thursday through Saturday evenings, while daytime tours and tastings will continue as usual.

Beyond the speakeasy, the distillery is continuing to reimagine its 28-acre campus.

Plans are underway to reorganize production and canning line operations to make room for a 350-person event space, set to host both private and public events when it opens later this year.

St. Petersburg Distillery’s line of Old St. Pete spirits, featuring a gin, whiskey, rum, and vodka | St. Petersburg Distillery

The broader vision is to create a neighborhood where artists, makers, and entrepreneurs can gather, with regular programming like the monthly Makers + Shakers Market helping activate the site.

The distillery is also preparing to roll out several new products this year, including an expansion of its Tippler’s line due to the success of its Tippler's Orange Liqueur, a 52-proof craft liqueur that uses real Florida Temple oranges.

The new Tippler’s flavors will include strawberry, grapefruit, and passionfruit.

The company is also developing two new whiskey lines, including a higher-end Muralist Series featuring limited releases in partnership with local artists.

Be sure to follow St. Petersburg Distillery on Facebook and Instagram for updates on new offerings, events, and more.