Key West, Florida, has the First Authorised Rum Distillery by Paul Menta
Here in Key West, Florida, rum is unique in our hearts. This island previously played a significant part in the rum-running trade during Prohibition as one of the primary sites for transporting Caribbean rum into Florida speakeasies. It is still the spirit of choice today in the Florida Keys, whether mixed with orange and pineapple for a cheery rum runner or muddled with fresh limes and mint for a cool mojito.
Who is Paul Menta?
Paul Menta's age is 57. His first breath was taken in Philadelphia. Paul Menta lives in Key West, Florida. He is a kiteboarder by passion and the Masterchef by vocation. Paul Menta rum is the most famous rum in that area.
Key West's First legal rum distillery
Menta, a talented chef, created the Key West First Legal Rum Distillery in 2013, intending to produce premium, regional rums. The distillery is housed in a former Coca-Cola bottling facility and is furnished with artefacts from the Keys' rum-soaked history. Living in Key West, Paul Menta helped Key West legal rum become the most famous rum in Florida.
Enjoy Key West First Legal Rum in a variety of creative cocktails that are based on Key West history, such as "Up in Smoke" (a tribute to the cigar business), which features First Legal's raw and unfiltered rum, or the Tomoka Mojito, which is named after a well-known rum-running ship. We'll also have a range of aged and dark sipping rums that are the ideal complement to a Rodriguez cigar and may be enjoyed neat or with just a single ice cube.
Rum tastings and other unique cocktail events will be regularly held at Rum Row. Two 200-gallon copper stills that were specially built by Kentucky's Vendome Copper and Brass Works are housed in the central portion of the large structure. (This is the same business that produces them for well-known brands like Jack Daniels and Jim Beam.) There is a tasting bar and storage area at the front.
Key West Legal pays tribute to the island's booze-filled past when bootlegging and speakeasies were commonplace throughout the distillery and retail space during Prohibition. Mugshots of neighborhood rumrunners hang on the walls, and old newspaper articles tell how the government fought the bottle but lost.
Quality of rum
The number of spirits produced in each batch and their flavour might vary depending on several factors, including humidity, temperature, and pressure. While some makers of alcoholic beverages look for a regulated and consistent climate, Menta enjoys the erratic weather in the Southernmost City. Every batch is different at Key West Legal, an actual boutique distillery. Each sip is a testament to the artistry.
Six distillations are used to eliminate contaminants in the rum, and each week, roughly 600 hundred bottles are made. Each bottle is hand-labelled, and the Legal Rum flagship bottles include police mugshots of former neighbourhood residents who were found guilty of selling alcohol illegally. The base rum has a butterscotch scent, a creamy mouthfeel, and a pear finish. You may taste black truffles in some batches. Because of its rich fig and oaky tones, the smooth Key West Raw & Unfiltered Blend is a favoured choice of both novices and experts. The Chef Distilled line infuses Key Lime, Coconut, and Vanilla Creme Brulee into their original white rums to bring forth innovative tastes. Additionally, they have produced unique label editions for hotels like The Gates and Sunset Key.
At 3:00 and 3:30 pm, the distillery offers tours where visitors may observe the pouring of prefiltered alcohol into the still. The crew is typically ready to show you around while they are working if you miss the official tour. Don't anticipate seeing Menta observing the stills on a breezy day. He'll be kiteboarding outside.
So, Key West, Florida, has the first authorised rum distillery by paul menta. So whenever you are visiting Key West, Florida must visit that distillery. As we have explained, they will entertain you with the best-distilled rum in Key West.