Blonde Rum
The flagship rum inspired by Hemingway’s adventures, crafted from rums sourced from the Caribbean basin with a smooth, balanced flavor profile.
About
Papa’s Pilar Distillery is an award-winning craft rum distillery located in a historic brick tobacco warehouse at 201 Simonton St. in Key West, Florida. Operated by Hemingway Rum Company, it is named after Ernest Hemingway’s beloved boat Pilar and is dedicated to crafting ultra-premium rums with a ‘Never a Spectator’ philosophy. The distillery was voted #1 Best Craft Distillery Tour by USA Today 10Best (Travelers’ Choice 2024) and features guided tours, cocktail experiences, and seasonal events in their Hemingway Social Club.
Spirits
Bourbon Finished
Rum finished in bourbon barrels, imparting rich vanilla, caramel, and whiskey-forward flavors to the rum base.
Dark Rum
A deeper, more robust rum expression with darker molasses and spice notes from extended aging.
Ernest Inaugural
An exclusive limited-edition rum honoring Ernest Hemingway, featuring hand-selected rums from South and Central America double-finished in Cognac and Armagnac casks after aging in heavy toasted American white oak barrels with 36-month air-dried staves.
Legacy Edition 2022
Part of the annual Legacy Edition series that pays homage to legends who embodied Hemingway’s ‘Never a Spectator’ mantra, with unique cask finishing each year.
Legacy Edition 2023
Crafted in honor of surfing legend Greg Noll, made with rums from the Caribbean and South America blended in Bourbon barrels and Spanish Sherry casks, finished in Apple Brandy French Limousin oak casks and apricot/orange bitters casks, offering complex layered flavors of apricot, pine, citrus, orange blossom honey, and herbs.
Marquesas
A premium rum expression named after the Marquesas Islands, reflecting Hemingway’s South Pacific adventures.
Platinum Blonde
A premium variation of their blonde rum with enhanced smoothness and refined flavor characteristics.
Rye Finished
Rum finished in rye whiskey barrels, adding spicy, grain-forward complexity to the rum profile.
Sherry Finished
Rum finished in Spanish Sherry casks, adding rich, fruity, and nutty notes reminiscent of Hemingway’s love for sherry cocktails.