Puerto Rico Distillery Revives Historic Brunswick Landmark

A century-old manufacturing hub at 402 5th Avenue in Brunswick, Maryland, has entered its latest iteration as the new home of Puerto Rico Distillery. Founders Angel and Crystal Rivera are marking the transition by releasing a limited-run spirit, Clandestino Añejo, which bridges island heritage with local industrial history.

Money Talk·July 30, 2026·reads: 1,223

The building, which previously housed a clothing factory and a woodworking shop, now serves as a dual-purpose venue. Visitors will find the distillery operating alongside the Cultura Plenera Cultural Center, which began hosting community events earlier this year. The Riveras aimed to preserve the site's legacy as a place of creation, integrating educational tastings and displays on traditional distilling alongside their production facility.

The distillery’s debut at this location features the release of Clandestino Añejo, a pitorro aged in a single bourbon whiskey barrel. With only 218 individually numbered bottles produced, the batch represents the most exclusive offering in the company's history. While founder supporters gained early access in late July, the remaining stock becomes available to the general public on August 1, 2026, for $75 per bottle.

Angel Rivera credited the collaboration with Brunswick Main Street and local planning officials for facilitating the move. For the family team, the expansion is less about pure volume and more about establishing a cultural anchor in Maryland. The site is slated for a full public opening this fall, where the focus will shift to immersive experiences centered on Puerto Rican rum-making traditions and community hospitality.