Key West Florida for liquor/rum stores

[neatdrinker]

Do any of our members have knowledge of a retail or other shop in KEY WEST, that has available Rums that are hard to (or impossible to) find in the mainland U.S.
I have exhuasted the NYC area search for missing products on my "want-list",
as well as on-line stores via the net.
E.G- R.L.Seales, Cacaiue 500/Antiguo, Dos Maderas 5+3, Zacapa Etqueta Negra, XM, Cartavio 1929,Chairman's, Sunset Cap't Bleigh, Malcoron, Macuro, Santero 21, OR OTHER HIDDEN TREASURES.
I have a freind going on vacation there next week, who promised he'd bring or ship me home rums if he knew where to go without spending his time going place to place. I have always imagined that there was some non-tradititional type supply-line to the keys, outside of the usual wholesalers.
All I find here, are through the major distributors like Southern, Atlanic and Empire. Some states that have product i want, cannot ship outside that State. My dream vacation- Book passage with RandD!
Thank You!!

[RC]

Have your friend pick up a bottle of Pirate's Choice. I wouldn't say it's a premium rum at all, but it's not distributed outside of S. Florida and pretty cool to have on hand.

[Edward Hamilton]

Distribution in Key West is a bit of hit or miss. There are a couple of bars that pride themselves on having a good selection but retail is still way behind Miami for rum distribution.

I've yet to find anything that was sold in Key West that wasn't sold further up the keys in the mainland of south Florida. Maybe Rob Burr knows of a place and he'll share some insight as he travels down there a bit and sees a lot of liquor stores.

[RobertBurr]

I try to keep track of every place that sells rum in South Florida and the Keys. In my database, I have them listed by the nearest mile-marker from Key Largo down to Key West. There are a couple of great little shops, some big stores with good deals and a few that carry hard-to-find rums.

Do I feel a Ministry Of Rum Road Trip coming on?

Next to the Bull & Whistle Bar on Duval Street, Mr. Cheapees (423 Caroline) is twice the size of a phone booth, but has an amazing selection of the best rums you can buy in Florida -- and they're open until 5am. 305-292-6041

Conch Republic Liquors at 2306 N. Rosevelt Blvd (305-296-1861) has a fine selection of premium rums, a few hard-to-find bottles.

Winn-Dixie Liquors at 2760 N Roosevelt Blvd (305-294-3664) is where I recently found two bottle of Cruzan Estate Diamond. They have a decent selection, including some cachaзa, and very good prices.

Conch Town Liquors at 3340 N Roosevelt Blvd (305-294-4919) has an average selection of popular rums, plenty of Bacardi.

Albertson's Liquors at 1112 Keys Plaza (305-292-2013) has some good deals on 1.75 liter bottles.

Walgreen's Liquors at 2805 N. Roosevelt (305-292-9833) has the Trader Vic rums, that are not bad considering how cheap they are.

Amy's Liquor Store at 1510 Bertha St (305-292-6260) is a little neighborhood spot with a decent selection.

Old Town Wine & Spirits at 1029 Truman Ave (305-294-4123) nothing special.

Don's Place at 1000 Truman Ave (305-296-8837) nothing special.

White Tarpon Liquors at 700 Front St (305-295-5222) is a section of a bar with bottles on steel shelves, not much here.

Tropical Package Store at 508 Fleming St (305-294-4457) nothing special.

Lost Weekend Liquor Store at 427 Caroline St (305-296-4545) is only 15 feet from Mr. Cheapees, with more rum on the shelves, but less selection and less premium rums. They sell a lot of Captain Morgan.

Kwest Liquor at 705 Duval St (305-294-5995) has a decent selection for a small place on the main drag.

Bottle Cap Bar & Liquor at 1128 Simonton St (305-296-2807) is jut a bar where they'll sell you a bottle for a good price.

[neatdrinker]

Robert,
I gave your list to my son, who happened to be in a bar next to "Lost Weekend". He was with a bunch of friends and really did not have the time to shop for his old man.
At this store, they hand you a list of the rums, and there is only outside counter sales, no purusing the shelves inside.
I'd have loved to see the list. HOWEVER, he came home with a bottle of Santero 21 YO for me. Nice find, It's been on my wanted-list for a while. But, I was kinda disappointed after reading BilgeMonkeys review. I agreed with his initial acessment, of no real rummy taste. But disagree on his finish that it really grew on him. Not bad, but for $47, i know of a lot of fav's that that price would buy me two of.
Still after the elusive R.L. Seales as my list topper.
Some day.
I think i will contact all the shops you listed and see who either has a website, or will give a list, AND will ship to N.Y.

This same son, manages a Liquor store here on Long Island, but only deals with major distributors like Empire, and Southern. They have almost nothing hard to find. He did get a special on the some of the Plantation line last month.

The cheapest was the Barbados Special Reserve at just $17.00.
I LOVE this rum. I tend to like the heavy,sweet types like the Demerara's, Vizcaya, Zaya, and this was just delicious. If it's got carmel added, I don't want to know. I'd rather think tht it's just talented distilling.
I also got the Barbados 1995 for $22.00. Also nice, but nowhere like the Reserve.
Thanks again for your detailed reply.

Lastly, this may not be appropiate for the forum, but i am desparate-
After 20yrs as a hard working Narcotics Investigator for the State of NY, I was suddenly laid off last week. I survive the WTC on 9/11, just to get be tossed aside 8 yrs later for political reasons. (I worked for the Attorney General, and we had no civil service protection or union). Anyone out there in NYC or Long island, have a good job for an honest dedicated working guy?
(i only drink after work!!).

[corker]

Ministers,
Tried searching for similar threads with no luck so I'll revive this one.

I am going to be spending a week in the keys later this month. I saw your listings in key west and was wondering if you would share any other recommendations for the middle/ upper keys as well as Miami or ft lauderdale? Thanks in advance.

[gapearce]

Ministers,
Tried searching for similar threads with no luck so I'll revive this one.

I am going to be spending a week in the keys later this month. I saw your listings in key west and was wondering if you would share any other recommendations for the middle/ upper keys as well as Miami or ft lauderdale? Thanks in advance.

I'm going in Feb 2012 so I'd be interested in what you find out, too. Have fun!

[thegrinchd]

I was just down in S. Florida/Key West.

Denny's Discount Liquors on Key Largo and Total Wine in Ft. Lauderdale are the best I found in my somewhat limited poking.

Total Wine has almost the full Westerhall Line (RL Seales) as well as the Dos Maderos (I got the 5+5), as well as the full Brugal line, inclusive of the 1888 (which I also picked up)

There was an (I believe) ABC Store in the vicinity of the Mai Kai in Ft Lauderdale that had a reasonable sellection, but not as big as TW.

a local(ish) rum I had and enjoyed on Key West was Seista Key rum, they have a light, gold and Spiced, The spiced was the one I had, it has a distinct gingerbready kind of taste.

Siesta Key is out of Sarasota and is the only local flavor I know of.

I would also check on the rumconnection blog Mike lives in Key West and is a super guy.