Half Shell Rum
Half Shell Rum comes from Distillery 98, a family-run, sustainably operated micro-distillery in Santa Rosa Beach, on Florida's Emerald Coast. The Half Shell range is built around a one-of-a-kind filtration: after distillation, the spirit is passed through activated coconut carbon and clean, recycled oyster shells sourced from Florida's shellfish economy — a nod to the oysters that naturally filter the bays of the Gulf. The rum carries what the distillery calls a Caribbean soul: soft vanilla and warm spice over a clean cane base. It also arrives in a first-of-its-kind package — a bottle made from 94% recycled paperboard, five times lighter than glass.
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Origin: Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, USA
- Producer: Distillery 98
- Filtration: Activated coconut carbon and recycled oyster shells
- Packaging: 94% recycled paperboard bottle
The Story
Distillery 98 takes its name from U.S. Highway 98, the road that ties the Florida Panhandle together, and it was founded by Harrison Holditch with his brother-in-law and head distiller David Kapitanoff. Working from locally sourced ingredients and water drawn from Florida aquifers — the same water geothermally cools their stills — the team set out to make spirits that taste like the coast they live on, with sustainability built into every step: spent grain goes to livestock feed, process water is recycled, and the Half Shell line is bottled in recycled paperboard instead of glass. The rum is the lineup's easygoing pour: a versatile rum made for beach days, boat days, and bright cocktails.
Tasting Notes
Soft vanilla leads, with warm baking spice and a gentle cane sweetness underneath. The oyster-shell and coconut-carbon filtration keeps the palate clean and smooth, finishing dry and tidy rather than sugary — the way a mixing rum should, with enough character to sip over ice.
How to Enjoy
This is a natural cocktail rum: shake it into a classic Daiquiri, build a Mojito, or keep it simple with rum and cola and a lime wedge. It also works in tiki builds and punches where you want vanilla and spice without heaviness, and it pours neatly over a big cube if you prefer it straight. Exploring cane spirits? Compare it with the spiced Canerock Spiced Jamaican Rum or the Mexican Flor de Luna Piloncillo Rum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Half Shell Rum made in Florida?
Yes. It is distilled and bottled by Distillery 98 in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, from locally sourced ingredients and Florida aquifer water.
What is the bottle made of?
The bottle is a paper bottle made from 94% recycled paperboard with a food-grade pouch inside — an American first for a spirits brand — designed to be recycled after the last pour.
What does Half Shell Rum taste like?
Notes of vanilla and warm spice over clean cane sweetness, with a smooth, dry finish thanks to the coconut carbon and oyster shell filtration.
How strong is it?
Half Shell Rum is bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof) in a 750mL bottle.
Order Half Shell Rum today — available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor with secure nationwide shipping.