Key West First Legal Rum Distillery

Thanks to professional kiteboarder and chef, Paul Menta, Key West has its first rum distillery--well the first legal one anyway. Located in a former Coca-Cola bottling plant, the walls are covered with mugshots of local rumrunners and old Prohibition-era newspaper clippings. The main part of the cavernous building houses two 200-gallon copper stills, and the distillers give free tours throughout the day. Monday thru Saturday at 4:30 p.m. they even have a free mojito class. At their tasting bar, you can try samples of the various flavors, while employees educate about the distilling process and provide tasting notes on each one. Taking advantage of Key West's most abundant natural resource, Key West Legal uses oak barrels cured in seawater. The residual sea salt creates a smoother more flavorful drink. The smooth Key West Raw and Unfiltered Blend is one of the top favorites for its rich fig oaky tones.