Key West is famous for many things - tropical heat, mouthwatering seafood, and some of the best rum you can get your hands on. The story of the Conch Republic is dripping, seeping, lashing, covered, swilled, spilled, and written in this magical liquor. So let's dive headfirst into the history of the hooch that put it on the map! 

Prohibition 

Prohibition was the catalyst for Key West's foray into illegal activity. The Volstead Act went into effect on the 17th of January 1920 and changed the lives of Americans as they knew it forever. Various temperance movements had swept through the States over the previous century. With severe post-war shortages and rising social issues, Congress received the support required for the country-wide law to take effect within less than a year. 

The consequences, unfortunately, were the exact opposite of those intended. Crime rates spiked, mobs developed incredible national and international smuggling routes, and non-domestic spending rose to previously unseen proportions. The culture of illicit home-brews, clandestine speakeasies, and disregard for legal authority spread like wildfire, much to the dismay of policymakers and temperance movement leaders.

Rum Running in Key West 

Smugglers, also known as "rum-runners," took advantage of many legal loopholes. The one that put Key West on the map was the invisible border wrapping the United States. Within 12 miles of the North American coastline, any vessel participating in what would have been considered illegal activity was punishable by US law. However, anything beyond this intangible line took place in international waters and so fell outside any legal jurisdiction. Over time it took on the nickname "Rum Row." 

The Rum Runners did their utmost to make fools of law enforcers who tried to police the Southern Florida coastline. Dancing on the edge of the international border, they were able to bring millions of bottles of illegal booze into the country, of which Caribbean rum was the most prominent. Nimble speedboats and other vessels with trap floors, doors, and other illicit cargo holds stayed one step ahead, dropping off the booze at secret locations for the bootleggers to distribute. 

South Florida's most famous Rum Runner was Bill McCoy, who became famous as "the Real McCoy" (yes, this is where the term originated). He had a history in shipping and boat-building. Down on his luck at the beginning of Prohibition, he accepted an offer from a mysterious agent to become a smuggler. He set the standard for other Runners, refusing to dilute or compromise his products, hence his moniker. His veritable armada grew to five boats before he stepped down, fearing prosecution. 

Legacy in Key West 

The abolition of Prohibition on the 5th of December 1933 marked the end of Key West's rum smuggling career. A country economically depressed, sick of gangsters, and with plenty of evidence that Prohibition didn't work, saw the reintroduction of legal liquor sales as an opportunity to boost a flailing economy. That doesn't mean that this era has been forgotten. The legacy of those years lives on in places all over the Conch Republic. 

The world-famous cocktail, the "Rum Runner," originated in this part of the world. Created allegedly to use up a surplus of rum, it became a Key West staple, and though the name has changed, the venue where it was created is still a bar making a rip-roaring trade. You would be hard-pressed not to see photos on social media of holidaymakers enjoying this tropical delight by the beach. Speakeasies from the era are now internationally renowned bars, thrilling visitors with their extensive rum selection and salacious smuggling stories. Rum distilleries are huge influencers in the area, drawing thousands of tourists a year to their premises to sample the best of the best while learning about the intricate process of transforming sugar cane into liquor. 

But don't take our word for it; see for yourself! Our blog is jam-packed with more Key West-related info, or contact us for your FREE Travel Plan or 3-day Key West Insiders Guide. Don't miss out on an unforgettable tropical adventure!