Arrived at 9pm today 2/1 and the bartender immediately said (with no other greeting) "I'm closing early because I have somewhere to be" Oh. Okay? And your "somewhere to be" isn't...working until the business closes at 10pm? Anyways. If it was presented any other way maybe I could have been more understanding. But seeing other people/cars arrive after my group of 3 walked away confused at her "greeting" had me interpreting she just wanted to close a slow night early to hang with friends instead. read more

This hidden gem does not need to be hidden! 82 west is a great small business and bar that you will have the most high quality drinks at. Their menu is extensive and they are known for their rum. I contacted them (Kevin the owner) to have a private party for my birthday and they were very accommodating and fair price. This is a great place to have an event because they basically give you their whole space to do what you want within reason. I was able to create specialty drinks for my guests and could play my own music or bring a DJ if I wanted. Be careful the drinks are strong! But very good. I loved their blue agave tequila it was very smooth and they made a mango margarita for me. A lot of my guests were obsessed with the vanilla rum and bought a few bottles! They are located in Seminole heights right where all the main businesses are. You can't miss their outside tiki set up! read more

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Why 5 stars? Because this may be the only rum distillery I've been to, but it's my favorite! --- --- --- I discovered these guys way back in the day when they were in a tiny bungalow in Seminole Heights and went by the name of Twisted Sun Rum. I've followed their path from a distance along the way and saw that they recently got the distillery up and running. I'd been meaning to make my way over to check it out and was finally able to. I didn't realize that they don't technically sell you the cocktails - they offer them complimentary in hopes that you'll purchase a bottle of rum. The guy working behind the bar said that they have a couple different complimentary cocktails available and asked what kind of rum I usually prefer. I'm nowhere near the level of being able to tell you really specifically what I like, so I just mentioned that they posted on a photo of a Blue Hawaiian on Facebook the other day and that something like that looked right up my alley. He searched to make sure he had the proper ingredients to make that and had it ready for me pretty quickly. It was as tasty as it comes for a cocktail, in my opinion. I usually prefer wine or beer, but this drink went down way too easily to be considered safe. I dug it so much that I couldn't pass up the opportunity to buy a bottle of the coconut rum. He also gave me a sample of that by itself and it had a very smooth finish. If you're looking for rum in Tampa Bay, this is definitely the place to go! read more

82 West Distilling - Blue Hawaiian - Distilleries Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Love this place! What a great find on the way home on a Saturday night. We wanted one more cocktail and this was the perfect stop. The staff is super friendly and informative. Technically they are not a bar as distilleries can't sell you drinks so if you are getting drinks be sure to either buy bottles or leave appropriate $5+ per drink tips since they are not charging for drinks! We truly enjoyed our drinks and the rum which was evident by the three bottles we left with! We bought the dark run, coconut and the paradise which is an amazing spiced rum. To all you pirates out there: Highly recommend you check this place out! read more

82 West Distilling - Nice covered patio - Distilleries Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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My friend had a birthday gathering on a Friday night. This place is really cute and the bartenders were super nice. All of the liquor I tried here was really great quality. The tequila was so smooth. It almost tasted like water! The rum with vanilla was really good too. The best part of this place is their cocktails! I enjoyed the Playa 82. It was a pineapple & coconut drink. It was nice and sweet but strong. They also had a drink that tasted like strawberry cake! Next time I'm in Tampa I will definitely stop by! read more

82 West Distilling - Distilleries Near Me - Tampa, Florida

This is a great concept and the staff is friendly. You can try some of their distilled spirits predominantly rum in a huge choice of specialty drinks and purchase by the bottle to take home or give as a gift. They have a bar area, indoor tables and an outdoor patio area. We sat at the bar and were greeted by the bartender as she went off to wait on a table that had just come in before us. There was another person behind the bar standing there on his phone who didn't acknowledge us or help us with drinks but another young lady sat down 5 mins later and he proceeded to make her a drink still without acknowledging us. The bartender eventually returned and made our drinks. Probably wouldn't have bothered me as much if we didn't have dinner reservations coming up at a nearby restaurant and were in a bit of a hurry. Overall good experience and their rum is nice and tasty and strong. I had the pineapple upside down cake drink which was very delicious. They have a parking lot in back. read more

82 West Distilling - Pineapple upside down cake - Distilleries Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Happy National Rum Day - I can't imagine a more appropriate review than this place to celebrate! Omg, the 4.5/5 is so accurate & don't lie. This place is incredible - loved the excellent service from Jim! What I loved: 1.) Each person gets one complementary drink from their tasting menu, hoping it'll entice you to purchase a bottle. Their drink selection includes 18 different cocktails to choose from. I highly recommend their Mai Thai, Loaded Pina Colada, Mojito (Coconut Rum), etc. 2.) The Coconut Mojito wasn't icky sweet at all & a clean taste. Did I mention, it wasn't that expensive at all for one bottle of Coconut Rum ($15/bottle)? We tipped Jim $10 because he made me a second drink, was only person working on a Sun. afternoon where he was taking care of a bunch of people that made a pit stop from Tampa Brew Bus & so cheerful - great personality and so friendly! I had this place bookmarked for awhile - turns out Yelp reviews didn't lead us astray & will definitely be back soon when our Coconut Rum is low! read more

82 West Distilling - Loaded Pineapple: (5/5) - Distilleries Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Yesterday was my first time at 82 West Distilling. I recently moved back into the Heights so this is in my backyard pretty much. The bartender on staff was very friendly and the rum I sampled with my friends tasted great. It's amazing how much of a difference there is between small batch spirits and the bigger corporate versions of the world. The prices at 82 West are also fair if you're looking to buy a bottle. The rum from 82 West is so smooth and tasty, you can drink it straight without a problem. This is a great local spot to take someone. They don't have food so you might want to eat before or after. Check them out! read more

Really cool place in Seminole Heights! I'm super spoiled that I live a short 5 minute walk from here. The way it works is they "technically" can't sell you any alcoholic drinks, so the drinks are free but they encourage you to buy a bottle of one of their rums instead. The group had a variety of cocktails- the Zombie, Loaded Pina Colada, Old Fashioned, and a Mojito. The Zombie was the group's overall favorite but they were all really tasty. They have 5 different kinds of rum for purchase, we ended up buying a bottle of the Gulf Coast Gold Rum. Another favorite in the group was the 420 Rum which if you didn't know it was rum, you'd swear it was whiskey. Most bottles are $25, but the 420 Rum is $45. The staff was super friendly and walked us through the entire process and even gave us samples. The owner also gave us a quick tour of the distillery and showed us where they make all the rum. I brought a large group of people from out of town and they all had a great experience, I'll definitely make this a regular spot and recommend bringing your out-of-town friends. Also, they allow dogs outside so feel free to bring your furry friends as well! read more

82 West Distilling - Loaded Pina Colada - Distilleries Near Me - Tampa, Florida

What a great place to grab a drink! Seating is outdoors. The server will bring you a tray of samples when you secure a spot to sit or stand. Flag them down when you want to make a drink order. They are super creative and can surprise you with a new creation. My friends and I paid for the drink with tip and we bought three bottles. We love mixing rum from here to make our own drinks at home! read more

This was a chill spot to go to for tastings. Owner and staff are super friendly. We decided to get a bottle on the way out. read more

82 West Distilling - Mojito - Distilleries Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Want a truly unique experience? Look no further! In this gem, you buy bottles, not drinks. You can absolutely order drinks, the drinks are unique and eclectic and delicious, but you're only obligated to tip. The gentleman working there when I visited was attentive, friendly, knowledgeable & extremely entertaining. He concocted rum beverages in ways I never would have imagined possible, & tickled my tastebuds in ways formerly unknown. Great atmosphere, easy access to food, decent closing time (it's so easy to stay too late when you're drinking rum, after all), and a lovely location/ambiance all just throw great highlights on what you're really there to learn about and appreciate: Rum. Embrace your inner pirate, check it out, support local businesses. I know I'm going to send some bottles out for the holidays. read more

The best mojito of my life. Go with the blueberry rum and you won't be disappointed. Plus, the bartender was kind, informative, and made the experience fun for us. read more

I was expecting something cool. It's just a bar. That offers rum flights..nothing crazy. Drink was good. Quiet for a Friday evening. Ample parking in rear. read more

Man I have to say after being a long patron of this establishment the service has gone downhill. The bartender, (didn't know her name) couldn't be more rude. She treated us like we were there to get free drinks and head out. Every time we go we always tip the bartenders well and always buy merchandise or a bottle of rum. Not the "Groupon" people she labeled us as. Being a local business owner and owner of other ventures our customer service is taught as the most important thing. If that's how business will continue to run let me know when the space is vacant I would love to fill it. read more

Kevin, the owner, was great and so accommodating and friendly. The rum is the best in town and worth the trip. They have a nice open and airy atmosphere with plenty of space. The games play on several of the televisions they have. Highly recommend! read more

82 West Distilling - Bar area - Distilleries Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Friends wanted to try this place so we went along not expecting much. I haven't tasted a locally made spirit that I liked but this place pours some mighty tasty rum. The distiller is a nice young man of 23 who knows what he's doing. We ended up buying 3 bottles of good rum and having a lot of fun hanging out at the bar chatting with the owner and servers. All friendly and upbeat. excellent service and spirits. Highly recommend! read more

All good come to and end. Started with a great concept and enjoyable. Now that the place has got some acknowledgement from locals and others. Service and special treatment has declined even for us that live nearby and helped some of their success by sharing their post and such. Too bad because is a good product. Bartender staff also has changed for the worst. Bartender staff caters only to their acquaintances not the people that really buys their products. read more

Absolutely favorite in Seminole. Great atmosphere, amazing mixologists, ambience is adult and laid back. read more

82 West Distilling - Menu - Distilleries Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Amazing little spot with amazing bartenders. Free first 2 drinks as well! Jimmy is super nice and thoughtful and all that fun stuff. You'll be coming back over and over again. read more

Initially stopped by after purchasing a Groupon for a distillery tour + tasting, but found out tours are not being offered due to COVID. No problem! Took a seat out on the patio and received exceptional customer service. You get ten samples of each of their rums and any drink you want, free of charge! If they have the Horchata when you visit- get it!! It was AMAZING. Walked out with a bottle of their coconut and vanilla rums. Definitely worth a visit read more

We had a fun afternoon with Jim yesterday who I swear was able to nail everyone's drink just with a few questions. It was amazing! Bought a bottle and will definitely be back! Great rum, great ambiance, comfy bar seats and service is incredible! read more

Rum, rum, rum your boat over to 82 west distillery. The ambiance allows you to sail away for a brief moment away from all your troubles and worry. Upon arrival, you are greeted by a man named Jim. However, the manager Kevin is usually there to escort people for tours. Both have amazing personalities and the rum is to die for. They offer several flavors and allow you to sample two drinks made with your desired rum choice to sample the flavors. Sample cocktails are shown to you in a flip book with the main rum of choice listed at the bottom. For such a small distillery, they are surely worth stopping by. The blue and white colors draw you in and the company around you are delightful. I truly enjoy that they offer bbq as well. I am a vegetarian and love the fact that the food trucks sells sides in which I can eat. Out of everything, I believe my favorite part is the price of the rum. You can purchase a bottle of rum for $15-25. Now that's a bargain. My favorite is the Mutiny. It's a spiced rum with a lot of kick but very smooth. The flavor bursts in your mouth with every sip you take. I truly enjoyed my experience and I've heard they will also sell rum cake for the holidays. I can't wait. read more

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My favorite rum distillery in the world and it is right down the street. I love the Coconut Rum as a mainstay in my liquor cabinet. The Joffery's Coffee Rum is also always on hand in my home when available. The Bombshell Cinnamon Rum is bought by me every time it is available around Christmas time. I'm told there will be a special Christmas in July when they will make this delicious run again. I will be in sure and get a few bottles. I highly recommend joining the crew and getting your coin! Excellent samples and cocktails! read more

Stopped by while out exploring homes for sale in Seminole Heights. Was looking forward to discussing all the houses we visited on Sunday while patronizing a local, "trendy-vibe" watering hole (a la HGTV!) The bartender greeted us with a silent stare as we approached the bar looking for brews on tap. Quickly it dawned on us that this was a rum-only joint which is fair enough as the name of the place doesn't promise anything else. (We actually stopped for the Wine Bar next door but it was closed so we decided to check this place out. ) Upon returning to the parking lot, we found 4 intoxicated adults, 2 male and 2 female, next to our car. One of the men turner our car roof into a table top for his sweaty rum drink while lighting his cigarette , while 2 of the other adults blocked access to our car. One of the women tried to corral her friends away from our car as we patiently waited. The incident ended awkwardly and intimidatingly as the drunkest of the bunch continued to act like the school-yard bully without a target but intent upon marking his delusional territory. I realized as we drove away that I haven't encountered the behavior of a group of obnoxious drunks like this since the 80's. It's difficult to not place some responsibility upon the establishment. The place wasn't packed so it is unlikely the bartender didn't notice how grotesquely trashes they were. As a potential resident of Seminole Heights, I feel this place reflects poorly towards the "vibe" that the 'Heights has worked to achieve. Let's make it a place of civility, peace and respect -not drunkenness and intimidation. If you are a business owner you have a responsibility to the residents and if you are a resident you have a responsibility towards others to not be an asshole. read more

Man this place is one of a kind complementary drinks with membership listings 10/10 highly recommend fully. Each drink was smooth with a wonderful finish. The staff was extremely professional and kind. One gators fan staff is extremely cute and warm. Recommend fully for anyone wanting quality rum in the Tampa area read more

Love this place! Annissa made our first visit so inviting and welcomed. We've already gone back a few times bringing more friends. I love all their rums but really love trying their"experimental" rums. read more

No joke! Best rum distillery in Tampa! Also has amazing rum baked goods!!! Super fun delicious place!!! read more

82 West Distilling - Distilleries Near Me - Tampa, Florida

I have never written a bad review, but super frustrated! Bummed out that the customer service has declined tremendously! We loved going here, used to buy multiples bottles each visit and enjoyed the atmosphere, but now that it is more popular, the originals are forgotten and customer service plain stinks! Tonight was our 4th attempt to let them redeem themselves, but once again, we sat there for over 10 minutes and weren't even acknowledged, although the owner and 3 additional staff were on site. One bartender even walked by us 2x. Sad, we love to support local and we live in the neighborhood. Hope they get it together before it is too late and others like us fade away unnoticed....we walked out and still, no one said a word :( read more

Great experience! If you live in Seminole Heights you should check this place out. Tons of free samples and the rum cocktails are tasty. This was our first visit but we'll be regulars. read more

Annissa is amazing! The atmosphere is fun and gender mutual. Very relaxing night with my girls!

82 west is amazing! I love the coconut breeze rum! Definitely a must when in Seminole heights.

Jim's great. Good vibe. Great service. Good drinks. I really enjoyed my time here when a few friends and I came for happy hour. Only downside is because it's a distillery they can't sell drinks but the samples are worth the taste and the bottles are even better. read more