A storied Florida-made aperitif from the late 1800’s has been revived and is now being featured in two cocktails onboard the newest Royal Caribbean cruise ships.
Following its listing earlier this year as a featured cocktail on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, Munyon’s Paw-Paw now has two cocktails on its sister ship Utopia of the Seas.
Munyon’s Paw-Paw is an all-natural, American aperitif, crafted from 14 botanicals and married with America grain spirits. Revived in 2023 by Paul Massey and Joseph Colucci, the new spirit is based on Dr. James Munyon’s once famous elixir.
Dr. James Munyon first opened the Homeopathic Remedy Company in Philadelphia in 1892, before opening Hotel Hygeia, located on a private island off of Palm Beach, Florida in 1903. It was there that he created Munyon’s Paw-Paw. Hotel Hygeia became a tourist destination for those wintering in Palm Beach until it was destroyed by a fire in 1917. Munyon died the next year and his tonic was largely forgotten until it was recreated just a couple of years ago.
Paul Massey, COO at Sophisticated Sand Spirits, who revived the brand, says the Royal Caribbean listings are the largest yet for his small Florida-based brand.
“We are thrilled to have Munyon’s Paw-Paw in a featured cocktail on Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship. Now with Royal Caribbean launching Utopia of the Seas, the world’s second largest cruise ship, we’ve made it in two great cocktails!” says Massey.
“It definitely helped us with Royal Caribbean to have a Florida brand. They really liked the flavor profile. It is unique, different than anything else out there in the market.”
Munyon’s Paw-Paw is currently available in six states, but the focus so far has been on Florida.
“We’ve gotten some really cool hits: some great hotels, ABC has us in half of their stores, and a bunch of Total Wines carry us,” he tells TMI.
“Before Royal Caribbean, the biggest hit we had out of the gates is we competed in a Shark Tank type event put on by the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America last year, where we were awarded the best new modifier in the United States.”
But the Royal Caribbean listings are by the biggest listing that Munyon’s Paw-Paw has achieved in its short history.
