A Night Above the City: Palm Republic Rum and Tower Club Ft. Lauderdale Toast to Tropical Nights

South Florida knows how to set a scene, and on May 29, Tower Club Ft. Lauderdale proved exactly that.

Perched 28 floors above downtown Ft. Lauderdale with views that stretch to the horizon, Tower Club Ft. Lauderdale hosted an exclusive rum tasting experience in partnership with Palm Republic Rum, and the night had all the ingredients of a South Florida classic. Craft cocktails, warm weather energy and a guest bartender who knows how to command a room.

Eric Winter, star of ABC's The Rookie and co-founder of Palm Republic, stepped behind the bar himself to pour specialty cocktails for members and guests throughout the evening, bringing a personal touch to every glass. But what struck the crowd most wasn't just the rum. It was Eric himself.

Throughout the night, guests repeatedly commented on how kind, approachable and humble he was in person, spending the evening mixing cocktails, posing for photos, signing bottles and making everyone feel like they were spending time with a friend rather than a celebrity. The bottle-signing station stayed busy all night, with guests lining up to take home signed bottles and grab personal photos with Eric.

“Palm Republic's a passion of mine,” Winter said. “I fell in love with rum 20 years ago.”

This passion was sparked by a trip to Puerto Rico where his father-in-law introduced him to an aged rum that rewired everything he thought he knew about the spirit. Years later, with a nudge from his wife, he turned that obsession into a premium, no-added-sugar label built to change rum's reputation for good.

The lineup at the party delivered. Guests loved sampling Palm Republic's two offerings side-by-side, discovering how distinctly different they were neat versus in cocktails. The aged blend (eight years, sourced from Panama, Jamaica and the U.S. Virgin Islands) impressed seasoned rum drinkers, while the silver turned heads of its own. As Winter said, “The Silver has blown people away because everybody just thinks, 'Ah, it's gonna be a cheap rum, and I'm gonna mix it' — you can sip on that all day.”

The crowd at Tower Club agreed. The Palm-Loma, with its refreshing combination of grapefruit, lime and Palm Republic Silver, was an instant hit, while the Strawberry Palm quickly became the crowd favorite thanks to its bright summer flavors and stunning presentation.

Tower Club's own Chef Daniel Mahnke elevated the evening further with food pairings that leaned fully into the Latin-Caribbean inspiration behind the brand. Chicken Mofongo Cups brought a fun, vibrant energy, while the Ceviche Tostones were a standout for guests craving something fresh. For those staying on for dinner, the Churrasco with chimichurri, black beans and rice tied the entire evening together beautifully.

Between the music, the dancers, the cocktails and the skyline, the atmosphere felt less like a traditional tasting event and more like an exclusive rooftop escape. Palm Republic's modern, health-conscious identity, rooted in that tropical coastal spirit, translated beautifully within the Tower Club setting.

That kind of experience is exactly what Tower Club Ft. Lauderdale is built for. As part of the Invited Clubs portfolio, Tower Club is one of more than 150 private clubs operated by Invited Clubs, the leading owner-operator of private clubs in North America. Since 1957, Invited Clubs has operated with a singular mission: building relationships and enriching lives. With more than 325,000 members nationwide, they've turned that mission into a lifestyle, one anchored in championship golf, handcrafted cuisine, resort-style amenities and the kind of programming that keeps members coming back for more. Tower Club Ft. Lauderdale is one of the network's premier city clubs, and evenings like this one are a testament to why.

For South Floridians who appreciate the finer things and who expect their social calendar to reflect that, Invited Clubs properties consistently deliver. Whether it's a celebrity-hosted rum tasting above the Ft. Lauderdale skyline, or a curated culinary evening at one of their club dining rooms, these are spaces designed for people who don't settle for ordinary.

Tower Club Ft. Lauderdale has long been the backdrop for South Florida's most elevated evenings, and this one was no exception. With Palm Republic in the glass and the city lights below, it was exactly that.

For more information on membership at Tower Club Ft. Lauderdale, visit invitedclubs.com.

By Alyssa Overheim / Photos courtesy of Tower Club Ft. Lauderdale