Columbia Restaurant to Offer Exclusive Line of Spirits

BRADENTON – Richard Gonzmart, a fourth generation family member of Florida’s Oldest Restaurant, The Columbia, has created a private label spirits line honoring the 106-year-old iconic eatery, which in addition to our local venue on St. Armannd's Circle, and the original in Ybor City (Florida's oldest restaurant), has locations in the Historic District in St. Augustine, The Pier in Downtown St. Petersburg, Sand Key on Clearwater Beach, Celebration and Riverwalk in Tampa – all of which are owned and operated by 4th and 5th generation members of the founding family.

Don Casimiro Classic Silver Rum is named for Casimiro Hernandez, Sr., the ”Don“ of the Hernandez-Gonzmart generations, who left his home in Havana for a new life in Ybor City back in 1902 and would open the original restaurant in the cigar capital of the world just three years later. Chacho Bourbon Whiskey is named for Evelio ”Chacho“ Hernandez, Casimiro's youngest son, who would roast coffee for the family business for more than 55 years. Chacho, short for ”muchacho“ or ”the kid,“ was known for his youthful warm-heartedness and zest for life.

But Chacho's love of bourbon sometimes surpassed his love of roasting the best coffee in Ybor City. According to family lore, Chacho burned countless batches of coffee while ”enjoying“ his whiskey at the Rex bar across the street from the restaurant. In fact, the jovial coffee roaster caught the restaurant on fire so often that the family decided to move Chacho, and the mill, to the corner of 21st St and 7th Ave. and build a firewall to protect the family business. Chacho Bourbon Whiskey is a small-batch, aged in oak, 121-proof bourbon. Don Casimiro Classic Silver Rum and Chacho Bourbon Whiskey will be served at all Columbia locations, and sold in gift shops adjacent to the Columbia in Tampa’s Ybor City, and in Sarasota on St. Armands Circle.