I find most people who come into town to buy their Dream Home in the Florida Keys with me also do the "Duval Crawl" at one point. Duval Street is known as a drinking street with over 250 liquor licenses on a 12 block street.
It’s no secret that Key West loves its booze. Here you’ll find famous bars, historically famous drunks, and a good handful of distilleries, breweries, and one winery that make fascinating stops for our visitors. So cancel that morning run and have some morning rum, instead (or whiskey, or wine, or beer!). Continue reading for recommendations on the best distilleries, breweries, and tasting room bars in Key West.
Key West First Legal Rum Distillery, 105 Simonton St.
This distillery was established in 2012 at the original site of Jack’s Saloon in 1900 and the Coca Cola bottling plant in 1903. Free tours are scheduled at Noon, 1 pm, 3 pm & 4 pm Monday through Friday, 1 & 3 pm on Saturday and 3 pm on Sunday. There’s also a free Mojito class on Saturday afternoons at 4:30 pm. It’s both kid and pet-friendly. If you don’t want to do a tour, saddle up to the tasting bar anytime between 10am and 8pm daily.
On the tour, you’ll see the rum-making process, which spotlights sugar cane from Florida. The finished product specialties include Cuban Coffee Rum, Green Coconut Rum and Vanilla Brulee Dark Rum. They also offer rum cake, rum-filled chocolates, rum candles, shot glasses and T-shirts that make great souvenirs. This is my favorite of the distilleries on the Island. Good rum, informative tours, friendly stann and a lot of fun.
Pilar's Rum Distillery, 201 Simonton St.
Owned by the distand relatives of the Hemingway family, Pilar’s opened its doors in 2017 as a Rum Distillery and Experience Center. The building, itself, was built in 1878 as an all brick tobacco warehouse. They say they create their rum with the spirit of adventure that defined Ernest Hemingway himself. Pilar was named for Hemingway’s wife while he lived in Key West, and also his prized deep-sea fishing boat.
The family regularly donates profits to causes near and dear to the legend of Papa Hemingway, including The Ocean Foundation and International Game Fish Association. The rum products – blonde, dark and limited edition rums – may be purchased at the distillery along with a wide variety of other souvenirs, like clothing, glassware, and flasks. Guided distillery tours are $10 and last 30 minutes. They are available Noon to 4 PM daily, but you must be 21. I might be bias due to my loyalty to the Key West First Legal Rum Distillery but I'm not fond of this place. To me, they are using the name of a very distant relative that they never met and using it. I also thought opening a block from the first place in town to establish this niche market was in poor taste. Speaking of poor taste, their rum isn't very good either.
When in Rome do as the Romans do. Come on down to Key West, buy a house from me, take a tour of the rum distilleries and decide for yourself which one you prefer. Don't take my word for it. I'm a Real Estate expert not a Rum expert.
Gary
Gary McAdams, PA
Realtor/Notary Public
Barbara Anderson Realty
Key West, Florida
