While prepping for my very first trip to the Caribbean, I searched for THE quintessential Dominican Republic beverages I must try while on the island. I came across an article listing the top 5 Domincan Republic drinks/cocktails & immediately thought to myself: Game on!
So join me on my continual adult beverage journey as I ring in my 42nd birthday on the lovely, tropical Dominican Republic.
How The Dominican Republic Beverage List Rated
1. Presidente Beer ⭐️⭐️⭐️ As far as beers go, the Presidente isn’t bad. Light and refreshing, perfect for hot days on the beach. It’s a pilsner style, so it’s not loaded with flavor and character, like I’ve come to expect from my fav craft beers, but it’s not bad. And it’s really cheap.
2. Rum & Coke ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Shortly after checking into the apartment, I went for a walk on the beach to enjoy the sunset. I stumbled upon a little drink hut and had my first Rum & Coke, or Cuba Libre. It’s standard drink, not much flare to it. The type of rum definitely makes a difference though. Afterwards, I purchased a couple of bottles of Brugal rum to enjoy over the course of my stay. I also gave the Santo Libre a try, a version made with Sprite & lime, but I used ginger ale cos I LOVE it. Delicious & refreshing.
3. Mamajuana 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 What is Mamajuana, you may ask? Mamajuana is the national drink of the Dominican Republic, made from rum, honey, red wine, tree bark, and other herbs. Everywhere I went, people were selling bottles & giving samples of their version of this beverage. The locals swear it’s a cure all for everything from the common cold to liver & kidney issues. But it’s most celebrated claim is that of being an aphrodisiac. I can’t count the number of men that approached with the *nudge nudge*, *wink wink* sales hook.😊
I won’t lie, Mamajuana is a tasty concoction in general, but you never really know what you are going to get with each taste, as people make their own versions with slightly different ingredients. My favorites were from the Pirate Rum Factory and this gentleman selling it from a stall I ran into while shopping. The bottle is full of bark & herbs, which means I can continue to make my own Mamajuana for the next few years (10 or so, according to him) by refilling it with rum, wine, and honey when it gets low. CHEERS to that!
4. Pina Colada ⭐️⭐️⭐️ A great drink overall. This one edged out ALL the others I’ve had before because you can taste the difference the fresh ingredients make. It was tad too sweet for me, but definitely a nice cool & refreshing drink to beat the heat with.
5. Coco Loco ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Now these were GOOD! I had them at Canoa and at Jellyfish. I believe the one I had Canoa was a bit more traditional as it was served in a coconut & didn’t have the blue curaçao. The one from Jellyfish may have edged out Canoa because it was much fluffier & not quite as sweet, which appealed to my taste buds a bit more. Either way, an excellent drink. And since it’s on the sweet side, I had it in place of dessert after dinner.
Other Island Drinks
Of course, I didn’t limit myself to the 5 drinks on this list. 😊 Here are my favs of the other beverages the Dominican Republic had to offer:
Sangria ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Overall, the sangrias I had were quite tasty, but my favorite was from Citrus, an unassuming restaurant within easy walking distance from my apartment. The food was top notch, the drinks, even more so. I’m not usually a white sangria girl, but they had the ABSOLUTE best sangria I’d tasted. It was so fruity & fresh. And potent! My goal to recreate this bad boy this summer.
Caipirinha ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ So, I’ve recently discovered Caipirinhas & I really like this simple, yet quality beverage. I saw a Caprioska while dining at Noah’s– if you ever find yourself in the DR, do yourself a favor and check this place out. A Caprioska is basically the vodka version of the Caipirinha. And you know Vodka is my JAM. It was soooo good. Really, just try it for yourself.
Mojito 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 The mojitos I had at Canoa were the best I’ve tasted thus far in life. Very balanced, full of flavor, and I loved all the mint leaves they left in the glass. A nice garnish, but also a nice way to impart additional flavor to the drink.
Rum + Coconut Water ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ So, this was the drink the manager at Canoa suggested when I asked, “What’s a drink the local’s enjoy?”. He offered his favorite beverage, Brugal rum & coconut water. At first I was skeptical, but after my first sip this became one of my island favs. The sweetness of the coconut water pairs really well with the rum. Just take it slow, you’re basically drinking rum & water. Don’t let the heat and potency of this drink get to you.😉
2 Comments
I discovered Mamajuana on my first visit to the Dominican. I am not a fan, but then I don’t like rum. I can attest to the *nudge nudge*, *wink wink* sales hook. Not sure if there is any truth in it.
Right, I think they all use that one! LOL. I will say, I had several Mamajuanas and each one tasted different. I am not making my own and I’m currently playing with the recipe to get it just perfect.
Thanks for stopping by!