By Roger BullLocally made whiskey, rum and vodka could soon be part of the St. Augustine tourist scene.Philip McDaniel is planning to open St. Augustine Distillery in the old ice plant on Riberia Street. But unlike most of the micro distilleries that have been opening around the country lately, this one will include tours, tastings, a museum and videos.McDaniel said he’s still raising the $3.5 million needed, but he’s applied for the licenses. Opening, he said, should be in the first quarter of next year.The plan, he said is to use Florida-grown ingredients to produce a variety of liquors, including whiskeys aged at least three years.“It’s about taking Florida agriculture and making a new product,†he said. “So many of our vodkas come from Europe, our rums from the Caribbean. If we can make a premium quality product, that’s more jobs in the United States.Dave Pickerell, a master distiller at Maker’s Mark for more than a decade, will be in charge of formulating the spirits, interviewing, hiring and training the eventual distiller.McDaniel is retired from sales and marketing, but said he got excited about the new wave of micro distilleries that's following in the wake of small wineries and craft breweries.The American Distilling Institute has predicted that there will be more than 400 micro distilleries in the country by the end of 2015. Ten years ago, there were less than 60.St. Augustine would be the 13th small distillery in the state. The closest to Jacksonville is currently Flagler Spirits in Palm Coast.Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/amber-waves/2012-05-16/story/distillery-works-st-augustine#ixzz1v51YHmSQ