We thoroughly enjoyed this distillery and tour! We weren't sure about paying for a tour at a rum distillery, but it was worth it! The tour touched on the history of Hemingway while in Key West and gave a really nice lesson on the distill process for rum ending in a generous tasting in the bottling room. Tour guide was super friendly and knowledgeable. Rum was fantastic! A surprisingly positive experience! read more

Hemingway Distillery - Take your picture with Ernest's statue! - Distilleries Near Me - Key West, Florida

We arrived at the Hemmingway distillery /COCKTAIL BAR as one of the first stops on our craft cocktail crawl. Its a large open space with a beautiful bronze of Ernest Hemmingway in a central commanding spot in front of the bar with a wall mural depicting the " Old Man And The Sea" as a backdrop which seemed fitting in his honor & set the stage for fun. Floor to ceiling bookshelves are placed strategically throughout the room to give it that cozy library , artsy writer vibe. It was fairly crowded, our particular bartender was rather brusque and neither helpful or that friendly. Because you can't actually see the cocktail menu until you actually make it up to the bar it's hard to know what you want and they want you to order quickly. Anyway, my husband, of course, had to have a traditional daiquiri , which was premade, not chilled and frankly boring and way too sweet. I on the other hand, tried an old-fashioned and it was delicious. Next we sampled a flight of the Papa Pillar distillery Rums , and a couple of them were absolutely delicious. then we moved on.... Quick tip, I guess try to look at their menu online so that by the time you make it up to the bar, you know exactly what you want. And don't order the premade daiquiri It's un impressive. read more

A fun and tasty stop in KW. I didn't know I was a rum drinker until I did a flight at the Hemingway Distillery.  The distillery and tasting room/cocktail bar has a rustic, but relaxing environment and decor'.  The service was top notch as the bartenders were happy that we stopped by.   The menu includes multiple cocktails made with their different rum and several levels of rum flights.  Before I get into the tastings, kudos to the Distillery for honoring and recognizing veterans! Not only did they have a Missing Man table set, they gave a complementary cocktail to all veterans!  Nice job and thank you! We tried Papa's Full House Flight, which had their Dark Rum, Reserve Rum, Rye Finished Rum, and the Hemingway Rye Whiskey. All were very good, but the Reserve was absolutely amazing.  I also tasted the Blonde Rum, which was very good and very sippable. In addition to the flight, we had the Old Fashion, which was delicious!  The Hemingway Distillery/Cocktail Bar is a must-see stop when visiting KW. read more

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Such a cool spot with a great atmosphere! The distillery is stunning and pays such a great tribute to Ernest Hemingway. The staff is super knowledgeable and friendly, making the whole experience feel personal. It's the perfect place to escape the heat and enjoy some high-quality rum. Highly recommend! read more

Service was efficient but not overly friendly. Interior was nicely decorated, cool and had cold ice water on a hot day. We each tried a flight and liked the dark rum the best. Tried to buy a bottle but they didn't have any in stock. read more

Hemingway Distillery - Rum Flight. 4 tastings 1 ounce each - Distilleries Near Me - Key West, Florida

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This was a great experience, brief enough to not become dull, but long enough to learn a LOT about the history of rum, Hemingway, and this distillery in particular. Our guide was amusing and shared a lot of info that I didn't know previously. Skipper made the tour for me tbh. read more

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Hemingway Rum Distillery in Key West near the Historic Waterfront Wharf. Very large and lovely inside w a beautiful bar area and show room for souvenirs and various bottles of Rum. The tour is about an hour long and cost $20. We decided to pass on tour but did take a gander around their store! Very nice and the AC was much appreciated! read more

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Very nice, clean, and organized store. All the staff were professional and nice too. Surprised that they greet you at a stand upon entering to ask what tastings you'd like to pay for (and even the tour). Most places do free samplings. I guess we're paying for the Hemingway name, the nice show room, and all the merch they have made. Disappointed that their rums are blends and not technically distilled by the company, but they are tasty if you like sweet drinks. We still picked up a couple bottles of their seasonals. read more

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We love Pilar rum, so we thought we would take a short tour of the distillery. The tour guide was very knowledgeable very kind. Loved the tastings and the free drinks when we signed up for the online email registration. read more

Hemingway Distillery - The social club - Distilleries Near Me - Key West, Florida

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Easy five stars, this place rocks. So much so that we visited twice during our visit to Key West! It's no secret I love me some craft spirits and expertly made cocktails. You can check both of those boxes here. We didn't take the tour this time, but the tasting room is spacious, well decorated, and the AC is cranking on a hot and humid July day. My only qualm is the branding. Is it Papa's Pilar or Hemingway Distillery or Hemingway Social Club? It seems to be a combination of all three. But keep that in mind when searching online for it, because it can get confusing to the average tourist. Escaping the heat is a must in the Florida summers. Compared to the open air and more rowdy bars in the surrounding area, this place is a classy establishment with a beautiful design. From the back bar to the nautical art to the exposed brick, you want a properly made cocktail at a place like this. And the bartenders deliver! They have a seasonal menu, as well as a large selection of classic rum and whiskey cocktails. Those are the two spirits they make in house, and they are both delicious. The Key Lime Colada was Key West in a coupe glass. Cool, soothing, and refreshing. I tried some other cocktails and spirits on their own, and everything was on par. It's also worth noting that we brought our 10 month old here and it was no problem at all. We were able to be in our own corner without disturbing typical distillery patrons. A must in Key West for the spirits and cocktail enthusiast! read more

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If you're looking for a break from the Duval Street chaos, the Hemingway Rum Company (Papa's Pilar Distillery) is an absolute must-visit. It perfectly captures that laid-back, adventurous Key West spirit--and serves up some of the best drinks on the island. We were lucky enough to visit during Fantasy Fest, and the distillery was an incredible oasis! While the atmosphere is always chill, the fact that you can step away from the wildest crowds and still enjoy an expertly crafted cocktail in a relaxed yet beautiful setting is a huge plus. It's a fantastic spot to decompress, regroup, and recharge before diving back into the festival action. read more

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We came here to finish off my day of work and enjoyed some cocktails. There was live music, this place is close to cruise pier so perfect location for those coming in. Service was great, they have flights you can have to taste the rums available or just order drinks. Atmosphere is very relaxing and the temperature in there is COLD lol just fyi. Great spot will definitely be coming here again. read more

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This place was absolutely amazing. We stopped in here during Fantasy Fest early in the day and it was a fantastic escape from the heat to enjoy some really great craft cocktails. I got one of their seasonal Halloween drinks. read more

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Hemimgway made a rum fan out of me. I came here as part of a tour and there were only five of us. Skipper was an amazing tour guide. She talking about Hemingway's life, fun facts about rum, how the distillery operated, and then we sampled rum. I would highly recommend this tour as Skipper was an amazing guide. Hemingway distillery is amazing. Sure, you can find Pilar Rum in major liquor stores but the bottles here come with their own unique cap and they have limited edition rum here you can't find anywhere else. And while I mentioned how amazing Skipper was she wasn't the only one. The staff here all were super engaging and passionate about their product. I never felt like it was a sales pitch, more like someone showing off how cool a product was. My tale did not end here. I bought a few things here and Skipper offered to take it to the ship. I thought that was great! The day before disembarkation I asked the cruise employees how / when I would receive this product. Everyone I talked to was so confused. This made no sense to them as they never heard such a thing, but promised to look into it. They called at one point and said they couldn't find it, but after I came back from a late show there it was! I called and thanked them for finding it. The Monday after the cruise an employee from Hemingway called and texted me having heard what happened. What she didn't hear was that the merchandise was found. She was ready to make this right. I apologized that she wasn't informed it appeared. I was so impressed with her responsiveness! They made a loyal customer out of me! read more

Hemingway Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Key West, Florida

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My husband and I stopped by multiple times. The old fashion was, So incredible smooth. read more

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Papa's Flagship Flight was ok if you like rum. I'm a bourbon guy. The bartender's service was horrible. Telling a guest he didn't have time to go look for a drink he wanted and asking us to move to a table because we were in the way for people to order. There was a bar stool in the same area so not sure why we were blocking. Additionally insisted we kept the tab open until we finished the flight because people steal the glasses; that was insulting. We didn't do the tour. Something you may find worth while. read more

Hemingway Distillery - Papa's Flagship Flight: Blonde Rum, Dark Rum, Rye Finished Rum and Sherry Finished Rum - Distilleries Near Me - Key West, Florida

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We had a lovely time with Skipper as our tour guide. We asked so many stupid questions about the history and distilling process and she was patient, knowledgeable and professional the whole time. We did the tour that included a bottle of rum, which was a great deal. The cocktails at the end are STRONG, so be forewarned. read more

We went here with friends who used to be locals. They had the dark pillar rum at their house in the DMV and I loved it so obviously we had to stop by the source when in town. We started with a flight of all their rums and the rye whiskey. They were all very good. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable. The cocktail bar wasn't quite open yet so we left and came back when that opened too. Holy smokes. BEST PINA COLADO EVER! My wife and I are still talking about how good they are. I also got the Vikiden drink that features the dark rum, pina mix and OJ. It's topped with freshly grated nutmeg and coconut. Also very good. This place is super chill with an old speakeasy kind of vibe in a large open space. Highly recommend coming here! read more

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In our recent visit to Key West, I stopped in to THE RUM BAR (the classic rum cocktail bar on Duval Street that was the stop to find Bahama Bob)... While there, enjoying a cocktail, I inquired in they still hear from Bahama Bob and he told me he could be found over at PAPA'S PILAR DISTILLERY. Bahama Bob was the reason we became such fans of The Rum Bar but he's been long gone so it's nice to hear where he landed... I figured we'd look into the place and stop by if we have some time on our trip. Coincidently the next day we were walking past the CURRY WAREHOUSE and noticed this was the home of the distillery (known as HEMINGWAY RUM COMPANY). We jumped in and inquired if the legend was in and coincidently he was... we caught up with Bahama Bob for a moment and decided to check the place out and enjoy a cocktail (or a few). The distillery is an impressive operation and the tasting room (bar) is large and has a comfortable feel... standing bar (no stools) to order drinks and hang out plus many tables, hi-tops and couches spread around to really feel at home. At the bar, my wife ordered a KEY WEST STORM and I went with a THE SUN ALSO RISES AFTER THE HURRICANE (love the play on one of Hemingway's classic tales). We grabbed seats on a couch and cushioned chairs and challenged each other to a game of chess (I won if anyone cares). I also ended up trying their MOUSE'S MAI TAI... pretty good (as were the first drinks). Overall I enjoyed the drinks and the tasting room (bar) is comfortable but there is a bit of a touristy vibe (it is Key West after all). read more

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Awesome Rums and happy hour starts at 3 pm. Flights are reasonable. Definitely eat before coming to trying the rum flight. Great personable hosts. read more

Hemingway Distillery - Flight - Distilleries Near Me - Key West, Florida

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What a fun place to visit while in Key West. We enjoyed drinks at the bar and then decided to do a tasting, which was fabulous. The fella who helped us (wish I remembered his name) was so much fun. We tried a few different rum drinks. We learned about the distillery and then decided to take home some spirits. We missed taking the tour, so will do this next time. The rum is smooth and enjoyed an old fashioned and a Pina Colada, both were delicious! read more

While in Key West, my husband wanted to check out Hemingway Rum Company. The distillery offered guided tours every hour from 11am - 5pm, Wednesday to Saturday. Unfortunately, we arrived a little too late and missed the last tour for the day. Being that it was a Saturday, and we were leaving Key West the following Monday, we couldn't have come back for the guided tour. One of the reasons we wanted to come to Hemingway Rum Company was because they are dog friendly. It wasn't just the bar that was dog friendly, but we could also take our dog with us during the guided tour. How awesome is that! Anyway, now that we couldn't go on the guided tour, we grabbed ourselves a high top at the bar. Live music was playing when we got there. I can't remember the name of the duo, but the woman who sang was a retired Broadway singer, and she sang soooo beautifully. The weather outside was perfect, yet the bar was so inviting and cozy. My husband and I stayed for a couple of hours. The cocktails were well crafted and delicious. We had a few rounds of cocktails. I was really surprised by how good the rums were. Hemingway Rum Company was definitely one of our favorite stops of our Key West trip. read more

Hemingway Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Key West, Florida

The tour and tasting were such a fun experience for a fair price as well including a bottle! Not the best rum and whiskey I've had but decent and definitely prefer espresso martinis now with rum over vodka read more

Hemingway Distillery - Espresso martini with rum - Distilleries Near Me - Key West, Florida

If you go to the gift shop you can give them your email for a taste test of the Papa's blond and dark rum. You also get a 20% discount on what you buy. We bought a bottle of everything they make, since it is not available in Ohio, yet. Sipping rum, with lots of flavors from being a blended rum stored in many types of barrels. The fella giving out the tasting was very informative, and he said try this for a sipping cocktail. Make ice cubes with coconut water, then pour in some of the Papa's Pilar dark or blond rum, then add some pineapple juice. read more

Hemingway Distillery - If you can't get it in Ohio, buy one of each to take home. - Distilleries Near Me - Key West, Florida

It was great! We started at the retail side. The staff was very nice & knowledgable. We went to buy some rum knowing it was good from our last visit 7 years earlier. We learned about the club side a lot had changed since our last visit. Again the folks in the club were great. We had some drinks & a flight while learning more about the last 7 years of their growth. We found the rye, the rum, and the drinks to be awesome! The prices were reasonable. The atmosphere was very comfortable and we loved how it was decorated. The only thing left to do was buy some bottles to take home and we did read more

Wish I could leave negative stars, the so called customer service at their bar is non existent. Literally just left this place after trying to get a couple of drinks at the bar and were completely ignored. Wasn't busy, maybe five people in total came and went. We even moved from the side to right in front of the bartender and we're still ignored. As I've been in hospitality and customer service for over 30 years, things like this make my blood boil. It only takes seconds to acknowledge someone. Disgraceful. read more

Nice break away from the busyness of Duval. Great drinks, with prices comparable to what is expected in the area. Service was helpful and informed. The building is lovely and set the scene for a peaceful respite. read more

The Hemingway rum company has two sides to it. The distillery side gives free tastings provided you give them an email address. I found that to be a fair trade for 4 samples of rum. The Pilat rum is legit. I was impressed with how smooth the clear rum was. The Hemingway library which is a short walk through the distillery....was quite the treat. The vibe is incredibly chill even by key west standards. The cocktails there made with the various Pilat rums were excellent. I strongly recommend you engage the knowledgeable bartenders who can guide you to a custom cocktail. Personally I enjoyed their version of an old fashioned made with rum. Neat point: all the employees go by a nickname given to them by their peers. read more

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My husband is a fan of this rum so we decided to stop in during our visit. Edgar was a great tour guide. The tour was interesting and the tasting was great. You even get a drink at the end at the social club. We bought a bottle so that we have the key west top. Nice place. read more

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Our tour guide Lola was amazing and informative. Good amount of samples for the tour and had fun at the bar afterwards.

Learning about the process of how they make their rum was very fun! Edgar took great care to answer all our questions and had a wonderful tasting lineup for us. The social club cocktails were wonderful also! We came back the next day for a drink at the social club! read more

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Yes we are those people. Wandering the streets of key west, we came upon a sign offering complimentary rum tastings at Papa's place...Hemingway Rum Company. Time was running out on this unexpected freebie so we hustled through the door and found ourselves in a sort of Rum bar/distillery/adventure shop. We were passed through to the final complimentary tasting and joined the throng at the tastefully done wood bar. The tasting was great. We were lead through a series of shots and taught how to recognize the notes and finishes of each rum. The woman hosting the tasting was funny and full of rum Knowledge. We highly recommend this little adventure. We also found out that Hemingway's offers a fan favorite cocktail mixing lesson where you learn to make (and then drink) three rum cocktails. It sells out fast so you need to book it in advance. It sounded like read more

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We took the rum cocktail class and it was delightful! "Hurricane Helen" was a knowledgeable and experienced mixologist and "Indi Viki" was an informative tour guide and great bar back. We highly recommend this experience read more

Hemingway Distillery - Enjoying the tasting room - Distilleries Near Me - Key West, Florida

The makers of Papa Pilar Rum. Really cool bottle, btw. Fun fact: they used to put a chain on their bottle to resemble Hemingway's canteen. But they stop using that detail for a while now. Anyways, it's a great place for rum and/or Hemingway fans. The tour is funny and informative. You'll learn about Hemingway's life in the Keys. There are even tons of pictures of Ernest during his time here. Of course, you'll also learn about their rum distillery process. You must make reservations for the tour. I believe they also teach cocktail classes. There is a discount on rums, if you do the tour. There is also other cool merchandise like glasses, shirts, shorts, etc, You will get a tasting of their rums at the end of the tour. I prefer the blonde rum. 5 stars! read more

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My husband is more of a bourbon guy but he likes the white rum! They have a great merch shop and a free rum taste which is pretty impressive! We definitely recommend this to rum drinkers because they let you try a white and a dark. read more

Great addition to the tasting room is Papa's Pilar bar! Plenty of seating, fun atmosphere and live music. They have craft cocktails but I preferred to just get a shot of the dark rum, which was perfect, $12. You can start in the tasting room and get a sample of the rum options, then head to the adjacent bar to enjoy your favorite Or you can just enter the bar from the street entrance. read more

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Great distillery! This rum is one of my favorites not made in NC. It's such a buttery sweet rum! Their aged products are also so great and don't overly take on the properties of the barrel. I love to have these rums neat! They need nothing added to them! Also the people at the distillery are fantastic! We walked in for a quick tasting and we're welcomed with a very friendly hostess and set up very quickly at the bar. The person doing our tasting was great and gave us good details on the history of the distillery and how each product was created. Checking out I saw something I wanted but didn't see any on the floor so someone ran up and found some that had arrived but not been put on the floor yet. Such a great and friendly distillery! read more

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I've been to over 100 distilleries and this one did not disappoint. Informative tour that mixed rum history, rum making, and Hemingway in a well structured manner. Tour guide was very engaged with our group. They are making a great product! I do think the tour is overpriced for the overall experience but I would still recommend it. We did get a token for a free cocktail at their cocktail bar next door which did improve the value. You also get $5 off a bottle you purchase on site but it only applies to their lowest price point bottles. read more

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We took Papa's Pilar Cocktail Making Class. This was great fun!! There were only 10 of us. Once we had all checked in, Mo gave us a tour and told us the history of distilling their rum. After the tour, we all moved to set spots at the bar. We made two different cocktails: The Kiss and the Hurricane. It was so much fun!! We each got a goodie bag and a discount on a purchase of a bottle - which turned out good since I think we each wanted one!! Mo also gave recommendations for restaurants and bars. read more

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This rum distillery serves the best rum I've tasted, which includes rums I've had in the Caribbean. The rums are very smooth and have an amazing flavor. Isaac the presenter, did an excellent job explaining the rum and the process of making the rum. I highly recommend trying this rum, this is the only place you can get the original bottle of Hemingway rum that contains a compass bottle cap. read more

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