Rum Fest Key West to Blend Rum, Revelry and Seafaring Spirit Aug. 14-18

Fans of rum, fabled as seafarers’ favorite libation, can savor on-the-water fun, unique rum experiences, seminars and tastings, a concert and more during the inaugural Rum Fest Key West in the historic seaport city. Set for Wednesday through Sunday, Aug. 14-18, the festival incorporates a commemoration of National Rum Day on Friday, Aug. 16.

Scheduled events showcase Key West’s distilleries, landmarks and marine environment — as well as the rumrunning heritage that helped shape the island city during the 1920-1933 Prohibition era.  

The festival begins Wednesday evening, Aug. 14, with a tour of Key West First Legal Rum Distillery at 105 Simonton St., followed by a live music sunset sail with the distillery team on a spacious Fury Key West catamaran.

Attractions Thursday, Aug. 15, include a cocktail cruise to one of Key West’s offshore sandbars, a pool party featuring reggae and rum, a Lower Keys bar crawl via trolley and a cocktail contest for local mixologists. Capping the day’s temptations is an elegant four-course dinner with rum pairings at the Hemingway Social Club, located at the Hemingway Rum Co./Papa’s Pilar Distillery, 201 Simonton St. 

National Rum Day celebrations planned for Friday, Aug. 16, include the Key Lime Bicycle and Rum Tour, a sandbar cocktail cruise and a cigar-rolling and rum experience at the Rodriguez Cigar Factory, 113 Fitzpatrick St. Headlining the night is a concert by multi-platinum singer/songwriter and “trop rock” sensation Jesse Rice at the Key West Theater, 512 Eaton St., followed by an after party.

The festival’s undisputed highlight is the Grand Tasting at the Hemingway Rum Co., set for Saturday, Aug. 17, featuring more than 30 rum brands for attendees to sample. Rums represented are to include leading brands such as Pussers and Bacardi, artisan offerings such as Marsh House Rum and Down Island, and award-winning local favorites Papa’s Pilar Rum and Key West First Legal Rum.

The event begins at 6 p.m. for VIP ticket holders and 7:30 p.m. for general admission. Activities include an opportunity to meet the brands’ distillers and owners, a rum cake competition, live music and a raffle to win an autographed Kenny Chesney guitar.

During the day Saturday, rum-o-philes can expand their knowledge of their favorite spirit during four seminars at the Perry Hotel & Marina, 7001 Shrimp Road on Stock Island. Seminars are taught by local and national rum experts and are to include cocktails and small plates.

The rum-focused revelry concludes Sunday, Aug. 18, after a brunch and farewell event that feature the famous spirit.

Festival information and ticketing: rumfestkeywest.com

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