Montauk has the spirit of JAWS

JAWS, we all know that it is set on Amity Island and that it is only an island if you look at it from the water, but where is Amity?

It may have been shot on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts but in the book, by Peter Benchley, Amity Island is described as being located between Bridgehampton, New York, and East Hampton, New York. In reality you won’t find the fictional town of Amity, but that is exactly where you will find Montauk, New York.

And Montauk was also where the JAWS author would also find famed shark fisherman Frank Mundus, who Benchley went on several sea fishing trips with in the 1960s, and many believe he served as the living beathing inspiration for Quint, captain of the Orca.

In 1964, Mundus caught a great white shark that weighed in at over 4,500 pounds, which was a world record at the time. He went on to catch many more giant sharks, including one that was estimated to weigh nearly 3,500 pounds in 1986.

Mundus may not have had the Orca, instead he had The Cricket II, which he captained for almost 50 years, in fact it is still sailing the seas to this day after being restored to its former glory.

Like Quint, Mundus may have started out as a shark hunter but later became more Matt Hooper, becoming a shark conservationist, giving new meaning to Hooper drives the boat, Chief.

But what did Mundus, who died in 2008, think of JAWS? According to his website, he said: "It was the funniest and stupidest movie I've ever seen because too many stupid things happen in it."

Of course, those proportions are not correct, JAWS is a full-bodied crafted classic that only improves each time your eyes and senses drink in the Steven Spielberg film and the adventures of Quint, Brody and Hooper as they battle the marauding great white shark that is terrorising the beaches of Amity Island.

The spirit of JAWS still remains in Montauk and now – thanks to the Montauk Distilling Co - you can live the Montauk life from the comfort of your own home.

You might not get your feet wet, but you can definitely whet your whistle with an exciting choice of drinks that take traditional liquors and transform them into bolder, stronger-flavored spirits that evoke the spirit and legacy of their Montauk heritage.

Whether it is their rum, bourbon, gin, vodka…or even mermaid water, the Montauk Distilling Co is perfect for any fan of JAWS or fine drink as it always delivers a taste for adventure. Perfect for drinking to your legs.

Don’t wait for me, discover the full range of Montauk Distilling Co drinks right here.

Words by Dean Newman

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