Backyards of Key West Podcast with Mark Baratto

In this episode of the podcast, Mark Baratto sits down with the Kiteboarder, Chef, and owner/creator of the Key West First Legal Rum Distillery, Paul Menta. We talk about how Paul took a number of chances when creating his rum distillery and how his "failures" help him find success. In a post-COVID-19 world, Paul saw how hand sanitizer was hard to come by, so made his own product mixing 140 proof alcohol with aloe and transmission gel, used in ultrasounds. Menta gave away the 3-oz bottles around town to service workers, retailers, mail carriers, and anyone else hard at work in Key West during high season for tourists. Key West First Legal Rum Distillery WHAT IS CHEF DISTILLED? For centuries, Distillers have been making the sweet libation...Rum.  Some legal, some not so legal. One common task shared by rum Distillers and Chefs alike is cooking sugar cane in big kettles or "stills." We are Chefs first and Distillers second, so our process is called Chef Distilled! This combination of skill brings out the best f