We always run out to Grey Matter Distillery in Mayport to check out their themes, so of course we made a plan to stop in for Pink Matter. I think this might be one of their more under rated themes. If not this, then their retro them for certain. It's almost hard for me to write about their cocktails nowadays because they're always so good. I went ahead and attached a LOT of photos to this review of cocktails from the past several themes they've done as well. I just love the fact that they always have real craft cocktails, not just a minor twist on something that they're charging more for. It's worth noting that they always offer Mocktails and THC infused drinks for the non alcohol drinkers. We didn't try as many things as we usually do but we REALLY liked what we did get a chance to try. Off the top of my head, I'd say the Cabana Boy was my personal favorite. That's the whiskey sour that comes as a pairing in the Twin Palms special. My wife liked everything enough that she didn't have a favorite. If you haven't been to Grey Matter Distillery; go check out this theme because it's a good one. Then make sure to keep on eye on them because I'm guessing their Retro Theme will be coming back next and I'm always excited for that one too. A version of this review originally appeared in the Jacksonville Fun, Eats & Drinks Facebook group. read more

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Great bar, great drinks, amazing events and pop ups throughout the year. The bartenders are super friendly and knowledgeable. They make amazing themed drinks and really put effort into their seasonal menus. The bouncer needs to chill out and get off his power trip, "I'm not just letting people in the door, I'm bouncing, don't be the first person to get bounced tonight, I'm serious." He said to a lady simply trying to follow her friends through the door because she hasn't been paying attention. Edit: the owner reached out and assured me that the issue with the bouncer has been resolved satisfactorily. The mark of a great venue is how they treat their customers, and the owner here is top notch in his dedication to making sure each customer has a great experience. The bouncer, even with the little issue I had, seems to have meant well and it sounds like a miscommunication more than anything. I highly recommend this distillery for some of the best drinks around. Try and come during one of their multiple pop ups throughout the year. I can't wait to attend retro month! read more

I went with friends to check out their retro themed bar and for blockbuster trivia. Their drink menu is crafted according to the retro theme. I got the Be Kind Rewind drink that came with FunDip candy and it was cute. The drink was good. They do not serve food, but there is a pizza joint next door if you need something to snack on. read more

Grey Matter Distillery - Retro themed bar - Distilleries Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

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We have returned for the Halloween, Christmas, and pink out events and had an amazing time each visit. I tend to really enjoy any of the espresso martinis! I can't wait to try the Girl Scout cookie ones tomorrow night! This is our favorite date night spot!! read more

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No food served here, but if you're hungry for throwback cocktails and a vibrant atmosphere, this is the place for you. Bartenders were kind and attentive. Can't wait to bring the crew next time.!! read more

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I attended their pop up pink event and it was adorable. They had swings, a woman DJ, themed pink cocktails and literally everything inside was pink. Great pop event for a ladies night! read more

Grey Matter Distillery - Special pink themed menu - Distilleries Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

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Family from across town wanted to experience GM so they spent the day thus side of the ditch and enjoyed the ambiance and the bevvies. Service was good even when they got busy with larger parties. No food served here but they welcome bringing in goodness from several local spots. Fun day! read more

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They've done it again! I just stopped in for their spooky displays and they did not disappoint. I tried the Ghost Rider (seasonal old fashioned) and th Ghosted (moonshine beverage). Both of them were very tasty and were made in fun glasses! The service is always great and quite speedy here! I love that even with these adorable drinks, it doesn't cause a long wait at the bar. I love Grey Matter! read more

Grey Matter Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

Along with our friends, we dropped in for their Halloween Pop Up. Upon entering, you get an immediate Halloween vibe. The decor matched the setting perfectly, and set the spooky mood. They had a wide variety of drinks, and our table tried most of them. While they all said they enjoyed them, I can only speak to the two I had: the Headless Horse Mule and the Ghost Rider. I started out with the Ghost Rider, which was an apple Old Fashioned. I really enjoy Old Fashioneds, but this a one and done. It was just too sweet for my taste and seemed as if didn't have much bourbon whiskey. The Mule was a hit, though, and the cherry lime flavor was really good. Bartenders did a pretty good job keeping the drinks coming at a pace to handle the crowd, without sacrificing drink consistency. I wish the Ghost Rider had more kick, but that's about my only negative. Great experience overall. read more

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If there's anyone who knows how to put on a theme, it's Grey Matter Distillery! I've been a few times now and experienced both ends of the spectrum. On their slower days, when we were the only ones in the bar, the service was still friendly and attentive. On their busiest days, the place is absolutely packed with energy. Their holiday pop-ups are truly unmatched. I've been to both the Valentine's Day and Christmas events, and when I walked into the Valentine's Day pop-up my jaw actually dropped; the distillery was transformed head to toe in pink décor, complete with themed wallpaper and even a swing for photos. And the drinks? Beyond impressive. The seasonal cocktail menus are incredibly creative, with pages full of festive options. Just when we thought we'd finished browsing, we flipped the menu over and found even more themed cocktails and shots on the back. The attention to detail is mind-blowing. They also keep things lively with top-notch events like trivia and "Guess That Tune," which always draw a crowd. If you're in the Mayport area and looking for festive drinks, good energy, and over-the-top creativity, look no further than Grey Matter read more

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Met a few friends for some drinks, great vibe, service, and drinks per normal. Enchanted Forest theme. On this night, opened late (1:30am) and had DJs starting at 4 as well as a vendor. We tried the: Fluttering Fantasy- light and refreshing taste Moon Blossom- also light and refreshing, same vibe with the elderflower and lemon, but also pea and lavender. Campfire Fables- served on tree bark with fairies Pear Garden- also super light, not too sweet Whispering Rose- another lighter option, depth of flavor. Will be back! read more

One of my new favorite spots to get drinks!! We came for the Enchanted Forest popup and it's so adorable! They had such clever drink options, a DJ playing amazing music, and it was decorated so nicely! Also, the drinks were some of the most reasonably pieces drinks I've seen in a long time. We will definitely be back for the next popup! read more

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I love Holiday pop ups! Frey matter is always fun to visit on every holiday! The drinks are strong and so creative. Such a fun place to meet up with friends. They do not have a kitchen but you can grab a pizza from Reve to enjoy with your tasty drinks. read more

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You can always expect to have a great time at Grey Matter! There's not many things in Jacksonville that keeps coming back for something new and exciting every season but Grey Matter definitely is at the top of the list. I think the best season is probably Valentine's Day, but you're sure to enjoy any of their other pop-ups. There's no effort missed during their seasonal set ups. It's easily accessible from the parking lot and located next to a pizzeria which you can easily bring over to Grey Matter or you can enjoy their fresh (free) popcorn machine! There's plenty of seating and several restrooms. Staff is always straight to the point and welcoming to everyone. I love that they serve their own liquor and locally made ingredients. I can't wait to see what they have up their sleeve next! read more

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Ambiance- 10/10. Who doesnt love pink and themes?!? The decor was adorable, the drink options were unique, the cups were fun and even the lights were pink Service- good! Bartender was helpful and patient with our questions Drinks- I really liked the range of options for the espresso martinis. My favorite was the habanero espresso one as the flavor was just super unique. The chocolate strawberry one was a little sweet for my palate but if you like sweet you'll like that drink! This is the 3rd/4th time I have been to one of the themes at Grey Matter. I love going here and appreciate all the work they do to make it a fun and different each theme! read more

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They decorated the entire venue, including the bathrooms with Halloween decor! These were quality decorations! We ordered the espresso martini flight which came with four different flavors as well as two other drinks and one came in a blood bag. There was only one server on duty and there's about two other tables as well as us in there at the same time. I highly recommend going early in the day to avoid the crowds and lines when ordering and receiving drinks. read more

Grey Matter Distillery - Espresso martini - Distilleries Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

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The past couple months over the holiday season; I've been visiting Grey Matter more frequently. I'm always amazed at the amount of detail that goes into each pop up here. It's original, never been done before, and all homemade - ideas and props, by the owners and staff members! Grey matter continues to give customers a unique and fun experience year after year. I will always support this family owned establishment with great pride. They deserve so much praise based on creativity (back to back) alone! It's hard to create something unique this day and age, but to do it Every pop up; that's a lot of work. Thank you for giving Jax such a fun space to visit! read more

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Love the live dj, she was amazing. The Girl Scout martinis... would not recommend. Especially not the lemon one. read more

Grey Matter Distillery - Instagram vs reality - Distilleries Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

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Always love a fun themed bar. They go above and beyond to decorate. I've been to several different themes (Christmas, retro and valentines) and this time was Enchanted Forest. Beautifully done. Also enjoyed the espresso martini flight/tasting. It's a little pricey but it was generous glasses so we shared between three women. Loved all the picture opps! read more

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Every year, they have a themed Christmas pop-up bar and pull out all the stops and decor... this year was "Grinchmas" themed. We came for a girls night and had a fantastic night. The service was initially slow because they only had 2 bartenders but they added one after we had been there about an hour and service picked up. The themed drinks are great- we tried quite a variety: mules, mojitos, espresso martinis, spritzers. All had grinch-related names to go with the theme. They also had name that tune hosted by DJ Se7ven that was a lot of fun! After having our fair share of holiday cocktails, we went next door for some pizza at Reve. It can also be ordered and brought back to Grey Matter, but this particular night, it was so busy that we couldn't leave to get it or we would have to get back in the line to enter because of being at capacity. Highly recommend for the Xmas pop up bar every year! read more

Grey Matter Distillery - Pickle Jalapeño Martini - Distilleries Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

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Came here during their Christmas Pop-Up on a trivia night and it was really fun. The DJ/Trivia runner was great, the vibes were high. I ordered the espresso martini flight. The gingerbread espresso martini was my favorite, followed by praline espresso martini, traditional espresso martini, and the peppermint martini which was my least favorite. It kind of just tasted like rubbing alcohol. I heard all of the other drinks were pretty good as well though, so I'll have to come back to try them! read more

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YESSSSSSSS!!!!! OMGGGGGGG! THEIR DRINKS ARE FABULOUS AND THE ATMOSPHERE IS LAID BACK AND ADORABLE! I literally went last night, and I'm already craving another drink! I had WILDEST DREAMS! I am not really a drinker, but I want to try them all! The bartender was really sweet...he got slammed after the FSU game, but handled it like a champ and continued to put out the best and most beautiful drinks! Everyonewas super friendly. I can't wait to go back! read more

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Friendly place and if you want, pick up a bottle to take home. Good selection and booze is actually quite good. Very fresh considering they make it here. Lol Dirty martini. Need something more than the queen olives. But hey good service and nice place. Don't forget the popcorn machine. I'll be back read more

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Another great visit to Gray Matter Distillery, it's always a different vibe when you come here, maybe a theme for the holidays, or it may be just a tiki week, but it's always fun. They offer great events that happen here and of course their cocktails are always on point! Service has a smile and the DJ's are popping- always a good stop. read more

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Fun drinks. Fun vibes. Wonderful service. So many fun themed seasonal things all the time. I know this is short lol but not much else to say. Check it out! read more

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Grey Matter's holiday pop up bar was great! We went on a Wednesday which was their trivia night, the place was very full for a random Wednesday but very lively! The trivia host was very entertaining and inclusive of all the teams. The drinks were delicious, we tried the espresso martini flight and it came with the original, ginger bread, peppermint and praline! I loved all of them but the praline which was just a little too sweet for my liking. The whole experience was very fun, their decorations were all very beautiful as well and it felt like a winter wonderland! read more

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I decided to give this place another try because I've heard the christmas pop up is good. I LOVE Christmas Vacation so I had to come check it out. They did a fantastic job with the details, all of the references, subtle hidden yet significant to the movie decor, and the names of the drinks hit the nail on the head. Each section of the place was a different "scene" from the movie. It was so cute in here. Very crowded for an early Saturday afternoon! The parking lot fills up VERY quickly since it is small so be prepared to park at the lot next door and walk a little. I want to come back and try some other Christmas Vacation themed drinks. read more

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Gave this place another try after my previous review. The Christmas vacation pop-up was extremely well done. If you're a fan of the movie you will love all the references. The old fashioned was great and the gingerbread espresso martini was delicious. The place was packed but service still quick. Drinks are a bit pricey but that seems to be the norm for cocktails these days. Glad I gave it another try. read more

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National Lampoons Christmas Vacation is one of my favorite holidays films.. finding this place decked out representing all things Griswold made our weekend. Amazing drinks coupled with a themed scavenger hunt made this a much better treat than a membership to the jelly of the month club. read more

Grey Matter Distillery - A couple of cocktails to get the night started. - Distilleries Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

Grey Matter Distillery is my favorite place to grab a drink...or two. The owners are so friendly and welcoming! They have multiple themed popup events throughout the year that include drinks specials to match the theme & amazing decorations. GMD produces their own Carve Vodka, Live Oak Whiskey, Mayport Moonshine, and Ribault Rum & all cocktails are made with their spirits. I love trying the themed cocktails throughout the year, but my absolute favorite is the Duval Honey made with their whiskey, lemon, and honey. GMD is dog-friendly and families are welcome during the daytime hours. Fun fact- you can go to Bones Pizza a few doors down to order a pie & it will be delivered to you at Grey Matter. You should go to Grey Matter any time of the year but definitely follow them on social media so you know when they are doing one of their fun popup events! read more

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Congratulations to Joe Talentino of "I know Jax"-12 years now! We went to a celebratory brunch for Joe today. Congratulations to the Owner of the Grey Matter Distillery as well. Great place. The drinks were very good. Good vibes here too. I look forward to coming back here to visit again soon. Pros:Great Owner, good vibes/atmosphere, & drinks. Cons: none that I can think of. Would I recommend this place? YES read more

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To be honest, we had never heard of Grey Matter until we went to Reve one night, but we never got to check it out. I saw the Home Alone pop up bar posted and I knew we HAD to go!! It was so well done! Absolutely impressed with the attention to detail with this pop up! They captured every detail of the Home Alone movie!!! The drinks were all very tasty!!! We had the gingerbread espresso martini, the Junk Food martini, buzz woof your girlfriend, and the old fashioned. All of them were fantastic!! Thank you Grey Matter for being such a great host! The bartenders were fantastic, quick, and very kind! Can't wait to come back & try GM on a regular weekend. read more

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Came here with the girls and the decorations were amazing, drinks were yummy and service was great too! Samuel was the bar tender and he was awesome. Definitely coming back! read more

Grey Matter Distillery - This place was so fun. There's good ass drinks, awesome decorations and great service. Samuel was the bar tender and he was amazing. - Distilleries Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

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Love how Grey Matter does different themes for holidays and such! Most recently went for the valentines theme and shared the espresso martini flight with a friend. They were a little sweet for my taste but very cute presentation. The whole place is decked out for the theme! The parking lot is a little small since it shared space but I ubered anyway! Excited to see their next theme read more

Grey Matter Distillery - Espresso martini flight - Distilleries Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

Great local bar! I've been to a few events here and they always seem to have a fun pop up theme! Staff is always nice and the drinks are great! I went during their Christmas pop up and it was Home Alone theme. They put so many details into this pop up that you actually feel submerged into the movie! The drinks are of course in theme with the movie! read more

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I've been to Grey Matter a few times. I love the decorations they do for all the holidays and love the holiday-themed drinks. This time it was Halloween! The drinks are always good. Parking can be a challenge at peak times but we did find a spot in the regular lot. read more

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I always love going here. The pop up was cute and they always find inventive ways to deco. The drinks were tasty might not alcohol heavy but they decided to close a portion of the speakeasy early so we could not try some of the beverages. I was able to snag a pre batched coquito. We had fun and will be back for. More of their pop ups Revised- oh we sure do understand!! We are all working super hard to make the holidays special for everyone. I wasn't upset about the closure I just wished I could have tried them. He did offer me the coquito but not the other cocktails from the back portion. :). Hopefully we get to see you all again for a valentines pop up. read more

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Grey Matter Distillery is definitely a local gem! I had been seeing them on social media and gave them a try for Harry Potter trivia night, which was amazing! They had their pumpkin pie rum frozen drink and a butter beer that were both full of flavor and did not lack on the liquor lol. The vibe in the building was very friendly and community oriented and I loved that! The bartender offered great service with a smile and had no problem answering any questions we had. Of course I'll be back! read more

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I didn't get a chance to take many pictures but the enchanted forest pop up was a nice vibe. The service and drinks were great. I'd like to return on a regular night to see how it is. I'm now following them on social to stay up to date on upcoming events and pop ups. read more

Grey Matter Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

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I really like this spot they have good drinks and do themes very well. Most recently we went to the 80s/90s party, it was very fun, very well decorated and exceeded my expectations. The bar staff is always helpful and work as fast as they can. I am not sure if you can order anything you want but they have an array of drinks on their menu. There is no food served here but you can order food next store and bring it over or have it delivered. There is a DJ that regularly preforms on weekends, he is very funny and entertaining. He comes across a bit intimidating at times but he is fantastic and is always cracking jokes, sometimes about you. I highly suggest going when he is preforming. read more

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