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Ever wonder how a small coastal town quietly builds a powerhouse community around a local distillery? During this episode we sit with Jeff from 21st Amendment Distillery to trace the heartbeat of Vero Beach—why the locals matter most, how philanthropy stays front and center, and what it takes to run a craft spot that feels like home without losing sight of hard numbers. The conversation starts with the town’s small-but-growing vibe and moves into the honest calculus behind menus, seasonal traffic, and serving snowbirds while protecting the people who keep the lights on in August.

Jeff opens up about stepping onto a ballroom floor for Healthy Start Coalition’s Dancing With The Stars and why fundraising deserves integrity and time. He shares the practices that keep him grounded: weekly men’s league hockey an hour north, a quiet cigar, and anonymous evenings at beach hotels where no one expects shop talk. Those habits sharpen the axe so his team can pour better, listen longer, and keep the space welcoming. It’s a candid look at owner-led hospitality, where giving back, mindful leadership, and attention to detail turn a bar into a community anchor.

We close with legacy and what endures after the last glass is rinsed: family on the inside, family on the outside. Jeff wants guests to walk in, set down their pack, and forget life for a while—craft spirits and calm service making room for connection. If you care about Vero Beach, local business, or the craft spirits scene, this conversation offers practical insights and a reminder that real community is built one choice at a time.

If this story resonated, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who loves supporting local spots. Your support helps more neighbors find their place at the table.

Presented by Killer Bee Marketing
Helping local businesses in Vero Beach connect with their neighbors.

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Slip into a private tasting room, at 21st Amendment Distillery, where Victorian mirrors, antique chairs, and a ceiling woven from whiskey staves set the tone for a different kind of night out. We pull back the curtain on how a modern speakeasy aesthetic blends with a team-first mindset to create a space where people breathe easier, sip slower, and feel genuinely taken care of.

Jeff shares why the front-of-house feels both vintage and fresh, with layered seating nooks and cozy corners that invite conversation. He opens up about leadership choices that put the team before everything else—because a valued, trusted staff delivers the kind of warmth and consistency guests can feel the moment they walk in. From intentional onboarding and a handbook that spells out mission and service standards, to a culture that avoids drama and rewards accountability, the throughline is clear: people make the room.

We also explore the experiences that keep regulars coming back. Think hands-on cocktail classes around a big communal table, a blend-and-fill-your-own-bottle program where whiskey lovers craft a custom expression and wax-dip it, and private dinners and tastings for deeper dives. Then we head into cigar country, tracing Jeff’s trip to Nicaragua and the creation of a mild, house-branded 21 AD cigar designed for broad palates and perfect whiskey pairings. The conversation lands on “Cigars for Freedom,” a program that matches house cigar purchases to send care packages to service members, with a new contact in the works to keep that mission alive.

By the end, the purpose shines: build a room where guests can set down their packs for a while, and give the team what they need to make that relief repeatable. If this story resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves great spaces and better service, and leave a quick review so more neighbors can find us.

Presented by Killer Bee Marketing
Helping local businesses in Vero Beach connect with their neighbors.

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Keep It Local. Keep It Going

Be sure to connect with us on Instagram at @myverobeachdotcom

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A hidden tasting room, and a bourbon that proudly wears both the American and Florida flags—welcome to our sit-down with 21st Amendment Distillery founder Jeff Palleschi. We start with a clink of 21AD, a 90-proof bourbon built to be smooth without losing its backbone, then open up the larger story: how a former Marine turned a love of American whiskey into a people-first craft distillery in Vero Beach.

Jeff walks us through the hard parts you don’t see on a tasting flight: sourcing and installing boilers and chillers in a region without the distilling infrastructure of Kentucky or Tennessee, managing seasonality on the Treasure Coast, and choosing culture over convenience by training a team to deliver what he calls “unreasonable service.” We share how his bartenders read the room—present without hovering, precise without pretense—and why hospitality, more than hardware, sets the standard for every pour.

The conversation turns deeply personal as Jeff recounts his fight through dyslexia after viral meningitis, the years of confusion before a diagnosis, and the school that rebuilt his learning from the ground up. That journey forged systems, discipline, and empathy that now shape his business: organized prep, clear routines, and a mission to serve people before product. We explore the patriotic spirit woven into the space—Washington and Lincoln on the walls, a Marine emblem tucked high—and a welcome that invites different views to share one bar, one drink, one conversation.

If you care about craft spirits, small business realities, or the quiet power of service that actually serves, you’ll find a lot to love here. Pour a glass and join us as we talk bourbon, boilers, team culture, and the faith that carries a first-time founder through curveballs. Enjoy the episode, then subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more neighbors discover the show. What does great service mean to you?

Presented by Killer Bee Marketing
Helping local businesses in Vero Beach connect with their neighbors.

Support the show

Support The Show
Keep It Local. Keep It Going

Be sure to connect with us on Instagram at @myverobeachdotcom