Hawks Cay Launches the Most Delicious Way to Celebrate Hemingway

April 15, 2023

Expanding its adults-only offerings, Hawks Cay has opened its Ernest Hemingway-inspired rum bar, named after Hemingway’s favorite boat, Pilar. Our ocean-facing Pilar Bar is a true oasis for spirits lovers spending time in the sunny Keys to enjoy a variety of alcohol infused libations, rum tasting programs and light bar bites.

The famed novelist and Florida Keys resident, Hemingway and his wife Pauline fell in love with the Florida Keys after spending time in Havana, and were gifted their famous house by Pauline’s uncle as a wedding gift. The charm of the tropical archipelago, salty breeze and bright sunsets gave inspiration to many of his poetic bodies of work that we know today. Some of his most famous works were completed in the Keys include Death in The Afternoon, The Green Hills of Africa, The Snows of Kilimanjaro, and To Have and Have Not. Remembered as an adventurous spirit and frequent traveler, Hemingway could not resist the allure of the Keys and made it his home for nearly a decade.

After Hemingway’s passing, his family carried on his legacy through the creation of a Key West-based rum distillery, Pilar Rum. Bold and rich in flavor, guests can enjoy a selection of Pilar Rum-based drinks, like the Pilar Rum Runner and Come to Papa cocktails, to set the tone of their authentic Florida Keys vacation. Guests will find the Pilar Bar at the adults-only Oasis Cay area where they can just soak in the sun, lounge by the pool or unwind in a private cabana.

Groups looking for engaging entertainment will find Pilar Bar’s three-course rum tasting to be exactly what they are looking for. Participants of the rum tasting can expect to sample a few of Pilar’s most popular blends, like sherry cask, blonde and dark rums, while learning all about Hemingway from their lively bartender.

Before or after a rum tasting session, we recommend guests can enjoy a bite to eat dockside at Angler and Ale or sit down for a delicious prime steak and fresh seafood dinner at Sixty-One Prime.

See the Pilar Bar menu at https://www.hawkscay.com/amenities/dining/pilar-bar. Learn more about Hawks Cay’s food and beverage offerings at https://www.hawkscay.com/amenities/restaurants-and-bars.