All You Need To Know About Key West Craft Cocktail Crawl
There is a certain sense of specialness to Key West, offering breathtaking views, genuine culinary experiences and iconic landmarks that will have you dreaming for long after your return. One of the things that sets the island apart from any other place is its craft cocktail crawl. This unique and colorful adventure down Duval Street offers an incredible opportunity to learn and taste how some of the most talented bar owners in Key West and the world create hand-crafted drinks. If you are thinking of planning a craft cocktail crawl while in Key West, let us give you all the information you need to know. From popular itineraries to advice on how to go about creating your own crawl, here is everything you need to know about going on a Key West craft cocktail crawl.
What’s a Craft Cocktail Crawl?
A craft cocktail crawl is a tour through some of Key West’s best bars or rum joints, to sample special craft cocktails made by talented bartenders. You are able to try craft cocktails that are made with local spirits, unusual ingredients, and sometimes even flaming drinks. During this fun excursion, you also get to explore the iconic streets and culture of the island.The type of bar you’ll meet along your crawl will vary from traditional pubs playing classic rock music to cutting-edge speakeasies with a live DJ. And regardless of the venue or its type of music, you can expect amazing craft cocktails that are hand-mixed by some of the best bartenders in town. Even though they all have their own style and flair, they share the same passion and skill for creating unique and delicious drinks.
Benefits of Going on a Craft Cocktail Crawl
The great thing about going on a craft cocktail crawl is that you can enjoy your time with friends or an experienced guide who shares insights about the bars, mixology techniques, recipes and history. On top of that, you also get to enjoy refreshing drinks along the way, making this an everlasting experience that you’ll never forget. Here are some more benefits you can expect when going on a Key West craft cocktail crawl:
- Get to try unique brews and cocktails at the best locations in town
- Learn tips and tricks from experienced mixologists
- Visit iconic bars that have been around since the days of Hemingway
- Explore the vibrant culture of Key West
- Meet like-minded people
- Spend quality time in sun-filled yards or open breezy patios
- Enjoy tasty snacks that pair so well with your drinks
On a craft cocktail crawl through Key West, there is something for everyone regardless of the level of their mixology expertise. Whether you’re a novice drinker or a knowledgeable veteran, this journey through Duval Street will be an exciting learning experience.
Popular Key West Craft Cocktail Crawl Itineraries
There are dozens of popular bars that mixologists flock to when they come to Key West. If you were to visit each one on foot the trip would become more exhausting than enjoyable, even for an experienced drinker. Planning your own craft cocktail crawl puts adventurers at risk of missing out on some great establishments they didn’t know of. Luckily, there are also organized craft cocktail crawls that are led by knowledgeable guides, and they tend to follow one of these two popular routes:
Tour Route #1: Downtown Duval Street
This popular route begins on Simonton Street, then winds its way down Duval Street, concluding at Southard Street. Highlights of the tour include:
- Irish Kevin’s: Offers “The Original Key Lime Drop Martini’.
- Crazy Wolf Saloon: Serves a vast selection of beers from all around the world.
- Green Parrot: Home of The Smokin’ Iguana Caribbean BBQ and Bar.
- Sloppy Joe’s: Formerly the favorite watering hole of Ernest Hemingway.
- Turtle Kraals: Tourist hotspot with outdoor seating.
- The Sand Bar: Popular spot offering tasty Bahamian style dishes.
Tour Route #2 – County Rooster: “Roost & Toast” Tour
This fun tour route allows participants to appreciate different elements of Key West’s nightlife culture by visiting places such as:
- Half Shell Raw Bar: Fresh seafood and classic cocktails overlooking the water.
- The Bottlecap Bar & Grill: Rustic dive bar serving up creative specialty drinks.
- The Ghost Bar: Small chill-out lounge with rare liquor choices.
- Fogarty’s: Best place for craft beer-lovers.
- Green Parrot Dueling Piano Bar: Home to “The Fightin’ Cocktail Challenge”.
- Mangoes: Offers island-style tapas, sandwiches and entrees.
- Casa Marina Sunset Terrace: A dreamy oasis at beachside.
These two craft cocktail crawls showcase some of best bars in town and provide valuable lessons on proper mixing techniques. Your guide will be happy to teach a few tips here and there or just show off some signature cocktails.
Creating Your Own Personalized Craft Cocktail Crawl
While there are plenty of popular routes that mixologists rely on for their Key West experience, there’s no reason why someone shouldn’t come up with their own unique tour. The challenge here is to choose places that offer signature flavor profiles that suit your taste. A good way to ensure that you don’t miss any great spots is by utilizing online reviews and locals suggestions. If you want to make sure that you’ll have access to all sorts of exclusive drinks, ask your bartender friends for some insider advice. No local knows what’s going on better than them! Once you’ve chosen your dream bars, put together an itinerary in order to keep your tour well organized. Structure it according to your preferences and time constraints so that you can get the most out of your experience. For example, have a running plan-of-action to make sure that you can sample all drinks within the given time frame or make sure that you reserve enough time for each place so that your tasting plan doesn’t become rushed. It can take away from your experience if you don’t pay attention to your itinerary while going on this excursion. And if you don’t feel like wasting time reading reviews online and coming up with personal plans, fear not! You can always opt for one of the popular tour itineraries mentioned above. To get the most out of either options check out Viator’s Craft Cocktail Crawl through Key West,, where an experienced guide takes cares of all details from gathering participants at convenient pick-up locations to making restaurant reservations so there’s no wait or hassle. You can spend more time enjoying a newer side of life – cheers!Table of Contents
