The Cane Republic
South Florida, the Sunshine State is the gateway to the Caribbean. With a subtropical climate with hot and humid summers, it features frequent afternoon showers. Winters are mild and the wet season brings concentrated rainfall, while the flat terrain features extensive coastlines. Florida sugarcane is harvested between October and April. Among its unique landscapes are the Everglades wetlands, and the Florida Keys, a chain of captivating islands.
South Florida’s allure stretches far beyond its beaches. Explore the vast Everglades National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site teeming with alligators, or dive into Biscayne National Park’s vibrant coral reefs. Immerse yourself in the Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, the lush Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, or the tranquil Bahia Honda State Park.
Wander along the iconic South Beach or visit the rum bars at Bayside Marketplace in Downtown Miami. The rum adventure here stretches from the southernmost tip in Key West to the cultural hub of Sarasota. Rum bars and distilleries are never far from reach in South Florida.
Key West
This small island paradise located in the Straits of Florida, is about 95 miles north of Cuba and drenched in rum culture. Formed from coral reefs and sand, it’s the westernmost island connected by the Overseas Highway in the Florida Keys chain.
Key West First Legal Rum Distillery
Paul Menta is a kiteboarder, author, chef, distiller, and celebrity on the TV show Salt Cured Life with an appearance on Gordon Ramsay’s Uncharted aired on National Geographic. He has been a chef for 30 years, with his company slogan being “Chef Distilled” which is why he chose not to use molasses but to use Florida Demerara sugar in his rum making.
Thinking like a chef, he did not want to use fresh water in new American Oak barrels so he put them in the ocean to absorb fresh salt, which in turn gives a unique flavour and also adjusts the pH and acidity in the barrels. He prefers to do a stripping run in a separate still, and then another run in a spirit still to bring out a top-shelf spirit that even as a clear rum has won a double gold in a blind tasting.
Key expressions are; Key West Legend Rum 140 proof (a pure white rum), Key West First Legal Rum Light Rum, and Bad Bitch Rum Spanish Marie Dark Rum aged in French oak barrels that held Pinot Noir wine for 7 years.
In 2024, he worked with different types of barrels in their salting process to bring out different flavours, and also worked with hatch chili farmers in New Mexico to make a hatch chili spiced rum. As a chef, he is constantly experimenting with techniques and ingredients just as he would in the kitchen. He doesn’t have any secrets and allows distillery visitors to join in on daily free tours to witness the production for themselves, as well as, enjoy free samples of the rums seven days a week! In 2023, they officially proclaimed July 13th as Key West First Legal Rum Day!
Find out more on Key West First Legal Rum Distillery
Papa’s Pilar Rum Distillery
Founded in 2013 by Hemingway fan Steve Groth, the rum is named in tribute to Ernest Hemingway and his boat, the Pilar. The rum distillery is located near the famous Hemingway Home Museum in Key West in a historic tobacco warehouse built in 1878 by skilled Irish bricklayers.
Master distiller Ron Call is a seventh-generation master distiller and oversees the rum production. They blend rums from around the world and use unique barrels to finish the rum in Florida. The range includes Papa’s Pilar Blonde Rum Dark Rum and Sherry Finished Rum. In 2017, they opened a unique Experience Center with Distillery Tours, Cocktail Classes, and Haunted Ghost Tour. It’s Open Mon – Fri 10am-5pm and Sat & Sun 11am -5pm
Find out more on Papa’s Pilar Rum Distillery
Islamorada Brewery & Distillery
Founded in 2014, this brewery and distillery sits on the Overseas Highway in Islamorada regarded as the sport fishing capital of the world. Head distiller, Stephanie Harper oversees production using GMO-free Blackstrap molasses for their Dark Barrel Aged Rum. Pot distilling for the first run and column distilling for the second to create their signature profile, then it’s aged for a minimum of 1 year in new char 3 Barrels.
The reserve rum is aged for over 18 months in Rye whiskey char 3 barrels. They recently rebranded the entire spirit lineup including Islamorada Silver, Spiced, Reserve, and Dark Rums with a new bottle design.
They allow visitors and have two locations; the flagship location is Overseas Highway in Islamorada; the second location is in Fort Pierce. Their rum can also be enjoyed at Crooked Palm Cabana in Tavernier (another of their distilleries focused on vodka). “No other spirit expresses the Florida Keys better than rum!”
Learn more about Islamorada Brewery & Distillery
Miami
The metropolis on Florida’s southeastern coast, Miami sits directly on the Atlantic Ocean and is known for its beautiful beaches, vibrant nightlife, Art Deco architecture and cool rum bars.
Big Cypress Distillery
Founded in 2016 Big Cypress Distillery just south of Miami makes rum, gin, and liqueurs. Making rum came naturally for this south-Florida distillery. Sugar, the raw material is produced locally and they have great rum producers in nearby islands. The first batches of rum were made with a mix of organic brown sugar and molasses, using a cypress wood open fermenter.
They started with an aged rum in charred new American oak barrels. The signature rum is called Hell’s Bay Rum. The name comes from a spot in the Florida Everglades called Hell’s Bay, to pay homage to what some call “real Florida” away from the beaches and parties that have made it a popular tourist destination. Over time, the Hell’s Bay Rum has become more developed, complex, and delicate. Big Cypress has started blending sourced rums with their in-house rum to ensure consistency.
Plans are to begin fermenting and distilling high-ester rums. Big Cypress has a cocktail bar on Fridays and Saturdays from 5pm to midnight. You’ll have an opportunity to see the distillery as you sip a craft rum cocktail at the bar, like their barrel-rested rum old-fashioned. Plans are to expand to a larger location nearby sometime in early 2025.
Learn more about Big Cypress Distillery
Fort Lauderdale
Located just north of Miami, Fort Lauderdale is another major city along Florida’s south-eastern coast. Often nicknamed the “Venice of America” for its extensive canal system, it offers a mix of beaches, waterways, and a relaxed atmosphere.
Shady Distillery
Shady Distillery is a part of the Sistrunk Marketplace Brewery and Food Hall in Fort Lauderdale. The distillery currently makes vodka and two rums made from Florida molasses. 12 Mile White Rum Distilled with a light & flavourful profile ideal for cocktails. 12 Mile “Sinner” Rum is a limited-run Cinnamon flavoured rum.
They have a tour and tasting which comes with two signature Shady cocktails and a light bites board from the Sistrunk Marketplace. You can try Shady Distillery’s rum through its speakeasy-style distillery dinner hosted by the marketplace. They have a four-course meal featuring Shady cocktails and a tour of the distillery.
Find out more on Shady Distillery
South Florida Distillers
Founded in 2014 South Florida Distillers is Fort Lauderdale’s oldest and first legal distillery since Prohibition. They specialise in rum using Florida molasses. The first rum the distillery produced was the high-ester FWAYGO white rum and since then it has expanded to produce several different expressions as well as other spirits. Single barrel rum
They recently announced having an alcohol import permit to import bulk spirits globally to age or bottle at their distillery. The tasting room attached to the distillery is made for creativity and experimenting; visitors can mix their own cocktails using South Florida Distillers’ spirits and mixers and even distill their own flavored spirits.
Find out more on South Florida Distillers
ChainBridge Distillery
Just north of Fort Lauderdale is ChainBridge Distillery, a family-owned founded in 2012. With a background in winemaking from the Tokaj wine region of northeastern Hungary and Slovakia. When the distillery first started, it focused on bringing Hungarian fruit brandy to Florida. Since then, they have expanded to other spirits including three rums. ChainBridge Silver Rum, Florida Aged Rum, Sour Cherry Spiced Rum.
They offer a distillery tour & mixology workshop where visitors can enjoy a craft cocktail in the tasting room or sample one of the distillery’s many other spirits. Tours are available by booking.
Find out more on ChainBridge Distillery
West Palm Beach
Further north on Florida’s east coast, West Palm Beach is known for its pristine beaches, Intracoastal Waterway, and proximity to Palm Beach Island, a vacation playground.
Revenge Rum
This West Palm Beach distillery is 100% focused on rum. Interestingly they use reverse-osmosis pink Himalayan salt mineral water with Grade-A American molasses in the fermentation with two types of yeast. After 7 days in temperature-controlled fermentation, it’s distilled on a 1,000-gallon copper pot stripping still and then again through our 600-gallon copper pot spirit still. After all this, the rum is chill-filtered at 18° and bottled.
Revenge Rum currently makes white rum and barrel-aged rum. You can try the rum at the distillery’s tasting room or enjoy a cocktail that highlights the unique character of the spirit. Tours are available on the weekends by appointment only.
Find out more on Revenge Rum
Steel Tie Spirits – Black Coral Rum
Steel Tie Spirits is located near the Grandview Public Market in the District South area of West Palm Beach. The father and son owned distillery is known for its Black Coral rum. Named after black coral, something precious, and that’s how they feel about their rum.
Made with molasses from local Floridian sugarcane, and a temperature-controlled fermentation process and distilled on a self-made still. The range includes Black Coral White Rum, and Black Coral Rum Spiced Rum, both aged about 6 months. The spiced rum is distilled with a dozen, natural, Florida-grown spices. They have Black Coral Black Rum
Visitors can try all the rums on offer at the tasting room and bar which has a seasonal menu of crafted cocktails and happy hour deals. Steel Tie Spirits Co. is also a wedding venue.
Find out more on Steel Tie Spirits
Fort Myers
Situated on Florida’s southwest coast along the Gulf of Mexico, Fort Myers has a relaxed rum vibe, with beautiful beaches, and access to barrier islands like Sanibel and Captiva.
Wicked Dolphin Rum Distillery
Started in 2012, Wicked Dolphin Distillery is located in Cape Coral. Wicked Dolphin Rum was born out of an idea for a true Florida Rum. Using 100% Florida sugar and local ingredients, the rum is handcrafted in small batches using an American copper pot still, the largest in South Florida.
The woman-owned distillery produces national and international award-winning tropical flavoured rums and offers a selection of barrel-aged rums aged in once-used Bourbon Barrels. From the beginning, the goal has been to craft rum to be proud of, using the best ingredients available.
Florida’s rich and fertile sugarcane fields are just 35 minutes from the distillery, with over half of the sugarcane produced in the United States coming from Florida. Using only local, natural ingredients, Wicked Dolphin truly represents “Florida’s Rum.” Guests can visit the distillery to tour, taste, and see firsthand how this premium rum is made.
Wicked Dolphin is available in restaurants and bars. and stores throughout Florida. The distillery has a tasting room and retail store, tours require a reservation; Tuesdays, Thurs- Sat.
Find out more on Wicked Dolphin Rum Distillery
Alligator Bay Distillers
Founded in 2016, Alligator Bay’s motto is “cane to bottle” and keeps true to its word, making all of its rum from locally sourced black strap molasses. Distilled on old-fashioned copper pot stills, the brothers behind the distillery believe in small-batch production.
The range consists of Alligator Bay White Rum, Sun Gold, Spiced, Dark Rum, and Saba Treasure, a fennel flavoured rum. The future of Alligator Bay Distillers is changing as they move the distillery from Punta Gorda to downtown Bonita Springs. So, the tours and visits are on hold until then and they’ll update with progress socials.
Find out more on Alligator Bay Distillers
Sarasota
On Florida’s southwest coast, Sarasota is a cultural hub known for its art scene, beautiful beaches on Lido Key and Siesta Key, and proximity to Sarasota Bay.
Siesta Key Rum
Founded by Troy Roberts in 2007, Siesta Key Drum Circle Distilling is a rum distillery specialising in flavoured rums. The range includes Siesta Key Toasted Coconut as limited editions, Beer Barrel Spiced Rum, Coffee Rums, Silver Rum, and Distiller’s Reserve.
A top attraction in Sarasota, they offer free tours 7 days a week, 1pm & 3pm. Learn about their rum making and enjoy a rum tasting. Enjoy a rum cocktail in the Infinity Room a tiki bar that has the original bar from the Bahi Hut, Florida’s oldest Tiki lounge.
Find out more on Siesta Key Rum
The Rum Runner Cocktail
Islamorada Distillery shares the backstory of this famous local rum cocktail:
The Rum Runner is a fruity and potent cocktail that’s said to have originated in the 1970s at the Holiday Isle Tiki Bar in Islamorada, Florida Keys. According to legend, the drink was created by bartender John Elber, also known as “Tiki John”, to use up excess liquor and fruit juices before making room for new inventory. The drink’s name is a tribute to the rum smugglers, or “rum runners”, who transported illegal alcohol during Prohibition.
Where to Enjoy Rum in South Florida
When it comes to rum bars, Tiki bars, and restaurants with rum cocktails, South Florida is blessed more than most, there’s far too many to mention, check out happy hours, live events, and local tasting on your location’s Facebook pages and our producer profiles, here are a few;
Fort Myers: Rum Runners, Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille, Rum Bucket Bar
West Palm Beach: Square Grouper Tiki Bar, U-Tiki Beach, The Sandbar, Top Shell Bar, Rhum Shak
Fort Lauderdale: The Wreck Bar, Sistrunk Marketplace & Brewery,
Miami: Swizzle Rum Bar and Drinkery, Rum Room Miami Beach, The Rum Line, Cafe La Trova, Esotico Miami, Bamboo Room by Trader Vic’s. Skippers Dockside Key Largo.
Islamorada: Square Grouper Tiki Bar Ft Pierce Inlet, Square Grouper Islamorada, Lorelei Restaurant & Cabana Bar, Tiki Bar at AmaraCay Resort.
Key West: The Rum Bar, Speakeasy Inn and Rum Bar, Lagerheads Beach Bar, Rum Row, The Rum Barrel, Geiger Key Smokehouse and Tiki Bar.
Whether you want to discover local craft rum distilleries, find a cool tiki bar, or sip a sundowner cocktail, South Florida’s tropical spirit is a sun-kissed bucket list rum adventure you’ll not want to miss.
For more general travel advice on Florida Tourism
For travel planning and more rum producers use our Florida Rum Map
Thanks to all the brands for contributing to this article, and for permission to use their images. Other image credits to Canva Pro, and user contributions.
