CAPE CORAL, Fla. — Wicked Dolphin Distillery just gave Southwest Florida another award‑winning reason to stop by, and Jason Drew went “Gulfcoasting” to Cape Coral to celebrate the latest big win for this homegrown craft rum powerhouse.
Founded in 2012, Wicked Dolphin set out with a simple goal: to create a true Florida rum. The distillery sits just miles from the state’s sugarcane fields, and every bottle begins with 100% Florida‑grown sugar. Their rum is handcrafted in small batches using an American copper pot still, the largest in South Florida, before aging in American oak barrels to develop smooth notes of vanilla, caramel, and tropical fruit.
That dedication to Florida ingredients and small‑batch craftsmanship just paid off in a big way. Wicked Dolphin’s 3‑Year Barrel Aged Rum earned a Double Gold medal at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the most prestigious spirits competition in the world. A Double Gold means the judges were unanimous; this rum is exceptional…