William McCoy was a notorious American bootlegger during the Prohibition era in the 1920s. He gained fame for his innovative methods of smuggling alcohol, particularly rum, from the Caribbean to the United States. Unlike many of his contemporaries, McCoy was known for selling high-quality liquor, which earned him the nickname "The Real McCoy." His operations were based off the coast of Florida, where he used fast boats to evade law enforcement. McCoy's success and reputation made him a significant figure in the illegal alcohol trade, and he became a symbol of the era's underground economy. His activities eventually led to his arrest and conviction.