The 7 Best Key West Drinks for Your Next Trip - Key West Party Boats (2024)

Are you planning a trip to Key West soon? We know that you’ll enjoy everything once you’re down here.

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Whether it’s the boat tours, a Sloppy Joe sandwich, relaxing on the beach, or seeing our museums.

Oh, and you’ll also love bar hopping and enjoying the best Key West drinks.

Key West is known for its assortment of different co*cktails. These co*cktails are the town’s best-kept secret but are just as memorable as our Southernmost Point landmark.

Here’s what you should try when you’re down here:

1.The Hurricane Rum

Tropical islands, especially in the Caribbean, are known for their delicious rum. Key West has brought this vibe to South Florida.

Here you’ll find every combination of rum imaginable. You can try a basic rum and co*ke if you want to keep it simple. Or you can try a rum with different mixtures of fruit.

If you want a wild night, you want to try the Hurricane Rum. This is a combination of light and dark rum. It’s also mixed with vodka and gin! It’s also mixed with grapefruit juice and pineapple juice.

There’s an additional kick of grenadine syrup, almond liqueur, and triple sec. It’s one of the most popular rum drinks down in Key West and one that you’ll surely love!

2.Papa Doble

This unique drink is often credited to Ernest Hemingway, whose home you should definitely visit when you’re here.

It’s got a bit of rum with lime and grapefruit juice. It’s also got crushed ice mixed withmaraschino liqueur that floats on the top.

An alternative is to have the Papa Doble mixed with whiskey as this was Hemingway’s favorite drink.

In fact, if you’re going to try a Papa Doble you should also give a Sloppy Joe a try.

Sloppy Joe’s is where you can get the best Key West lunch. It’s where Hemingway would often dine when he wasn’t writing.

3.Dark and Stormy

This is the national drink of the island of Bermuda and is a favorite among sailors.

Those sailors must have visited Key West a few times because it’s found popularity down here as well!

It’s a simple mix of ginger beer and dark rum. Add half a cup of ice, and you’re ready to go!

In fact, if you’ve got a longer trip in Key West you might want to consider buying the ingredients yourself.

You can make a Dark and Stormy in your hotel room for you and your friends to enjoy!

4. The Rum Runner

This drink was actually made a few miles ahead of Key West in Islamorada. It was invented at the Postcard Inn (then theHoliday Isle Tiki Bar) by John Ebert.

The legend has it that the bar had more rum and liqueur than they could handle!

These items had to get moved to make space for new inventory. To “move” the items, John decided to make a concoction of his own.

He came up with “The Rum Runner” which is a mix of banana liquor, Meyers rum, grenadine, and a bit of brandy.

He named the drink after the notorious rum runners who would smuggle rum in the Florida Keys during the Prohibition era.

Luckily, The Rum Runner found its way down to Key West. If you try a food tour at Key West, you’ll be sure to try the drink along with some of the best bites in town.

Otherwise, you can go to the Historic Speakeasy Inn to try the drink. Like theDark and Stormy, we’re sure you’ll fall in love with this drink.

If you do, stop by a liquor store to buy the ingredients so you can make it at home.

5. Key Lime

When it comes to food, you’ve got to try a delicious Key Lime pie at least once before you leave Key West.

ButKey Lime has also found its way in some of Key West’s best drinks.You should try the Key Lime Margaritas, Martinis, and Key Lime Shooters when you get a chance.

In fact, if you’re at a restaurant or bar and have the option to add key lime to a drink you should do it!

The key lime is a staple of Florida and no place does key lime specialties better than Key West.

6. Craft Beer

If there’s a place to get a beer belly, it’s down in Key West. While you’ll find your favorites here, we recommend trying our local craft beers.

You might want to stop by Rams Head Southernmost to try their selection of craft beers. This is also a great place to try various co*cktails and to enjoy great meals.

There’s also the Waterfront Brewery located in the old town. This is another great place to enjoy craft beer as well as food items.

In only a few years, it’s become one of the hotspots for locals and tourists alike.

If you want a great view and a place where you can hang out all night, head on over to Hurricane Hole.

You’ll have a view of the harbor and a great sample of craft beers to try.

7. Fine Wines

Are you planning on visiting Key West with your significant other?

If so, you want to enjoy the many fine-dining options that the town offers. At all these restaurants, you can also enjoy fine wines.

Whether you want a Pinot Grigio, Rose, or Cabernet Sauvignon you can find it somewhere in town.

For an upscale experience, head on over to Prime Steakhouse. Enjoy your wines and food in a classy atmosphere.

If you like seafood and want a quieter experience, you can get it at Latitude’s Restaurant. You’ll also enjoy their selection of fine wines.

You’ll Also Get the Best Key West Drinks on a Boat

Now you know about the bestKey West drinks and where to enjoy them. But the best place to enjoy these drinks is on a Key West Boat Experience.

We provide boating experiences to make your trip to Key West more enjoyable.

You can enjoy a party boat where you’ll meet other tourists and locals. Or you can get a private boat tour for you and your friends.

Celebrating a birthday or bachelorette party? We’ve got you covered as well. Check out our options for boat tours and we’ll see you soon!

The 7 Best Key West Drinks for Your Next Trip - Key West Party Boats (2024)

FAQs

The 7 Best Key West Drinks for Your Next Trip - Key West Party Boats? ›

The Rum Runner: A Key West Signature co*cktail.

What's the most popular drink in Key West? ›

The Rum Runner: A Key West Signature co*cktail.

Can you walk around with drinks in Key West? ›

Florida Keys Have Open Container Laws

The Florida Keys & Key West do enforce open container laws that prohibit open containers of alcohol on most public beaches, parks and streets; including world-famous Duval Street. Be mindful of signs that indicate where alcohol containers are prohibited.

Who invented the Rum Runner? ›

The exploits of rum runners were front-page news, regularly reported on by newspapers across from the Prohibition '20s well into the 1950s. It's a popularity that a man named John Elber capitalized on when he first invented the Rum Runner.

What is the most gangster drink? ›

Among gangsters, scotch and whiskey were always popular choices, particularly the whiskey brand Cutty Sark. And they had their own way of ordering, as recounted by undercover FBI agent Jack Garcia: “Mobsters always order drinks by a brand. Never just a scotch and water, it would be a Cutty and water.

Is Key West a party town? ›

Key West is well known for its festive nightlife culture. The island boasts a mix of bars, restaurants, live music venues, and poolside party spots.

When to avoid Key West? ›

Low season in Key West runs from September through November. September and October see the most rain and the highest chances for storms.

Is it safe to walk around Key West at night? ›

The crime rate in the Florida Keys is low, but you should still use common sense when exploring Key West, especially at night and around hectic Duval Street and Mallory Square. Exercise caution when going into the water as well; be sure to heed all flags and warnings from authorities.

Can I wear jeans in Key West? ›

So, if you are visiting Key West during the winter, make sure to check the weather before your trip to see if any cold fronts are expected. I recommend packing jeans and a lightweight sweater to wear at night! During the day, you can likely still wear shorts, t-shirts, tank tops, etc!

What does "rumrunner" mean? ›

Definitions of rumrunner. someone who illegally smuggles liquor across a border.

Are rum runners detectable? ›

While rumrunners, and the liquid in them, might be detectable they are blobby in shape and less visible than glass, which is much denser and botles have a distinct shape.

What is a good poolside drink? ›

7 Refreshing Poolside co*cktails
  • Cucumber Margarita. The only thing more refreshing than a margarita is one made with cucumbers. ...
  • Strawberry-Lemon Mojitos. Strawberries sweeten these mojitos. ...
  • Brewsky Sangria. ...
  • Pineapple-Sake Sangria with Jalapeño. ...
  • Rum & Tonic. ...
  • Strawberry-Basil-Balsamic Daiquiri. ...
  • Watermelon-Tequila co*cktail.
May 23, 2017

What is a good alcoholic drink to sip on? ›

The best spirits to sip neat, without mixing with anything else, include whiskey, bourbon, Scotch, tequila, mezcal, gin and rum. If you're unsure where to start with these, no worries. We're here to help with our roundup of some of the top premium sipping spirits around. Check them out.

What is the most popular drink besides water? ›

Traditionally warm beverages include coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. Caffeinated drinks that contain the stimulant caffeine have a long history. Tea is the second‑most‑consumed drink in the world, after water.

What alcoholic drink is Florida known for? ›

The Rum Runner co*cktail is Florida's own. A bartender, working at the Holiday Isle Tiki Bar in Islamorada, was faced with too many partially-filled bottles. Voila! The Rum Runner was born.

Is Key West known for rum? ›

Rum has a special place in our hearts here in Key West. During Prohibition, this island once played an important role in the rum-running trade as one of the key stops for smuggling Caribbean rum into Florida speakeasies.

What is the drinking age in Key West? ›

Underage DUI Attorneys, Laws, Penalties, and Defenses in Key West, Florida. In Florida, an individual must be age 21 or older to consume alcoholic beverages without violating Florida law.

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