Rum, Beer & Drinks

The Dominican Republic is one of the most significant rum countries in the world — and rum permeates the entire social life here. An evening without rum is like a beach without sand.

The Three Major Rum Brands

Brand	Style	Famous Varieties	Price (750ml)
Brugal	Dry, light, Puerto Plata style	Extra Viejo, 1888, Papa Andrés	6–50 USD
Barceló	Soft, round, San Pedro de Macorís	Añejo, Imperial, Imperial Premium	6–40 USD
Ron del Barrilito	Premium, limited	2 Star, 3 Star	25–60 USD

Brugal is the market leader and the brand found in every Colmado. Barceló is the eternal rival (the Brugal vs. Barceló debate is like Coca-Cola vs. Pepsi). For connoisseurs: Brugal Papa Andrés (from 50 USD) is among the best rums in the world.

Rum is drunk neat (with ice), as a Cuba Libre (Rum + Cola + Lime), or as "Rum con Jugo" (Rum with fruit juice — especially Passionfruit or Lime). Locals drink the "Brugal Dorado" (golden, affordable rum) with Cola.

Mamajuana — The National Drink

The most iconic drink of the Dominican Republic: Rum and red wine infused with honey, tree bark, and herbs in a bottle that steeps for weeks. The result is a sweet, herbal, slightly bitter liqueur, praised as an aphrodisiac and cure-all (for everything from flu to impotence). Whether that's true is up for debate — but it does taste good.

In souvenir shops, Mamajuana bottles with the dry ingredients are sold (5–15 USD) — you just need to add rum and red wine at home and wait 2–3 weeks. The ingredients can be reused up to 20 times.

Beer

Presidente is the Dominican beer — a light lager, drunk ice-cold from the iconic green 650-ml bottle (la Grande). There's an unwritten rule: Presidente is served so cold that ice crystals form. The "Presidente Light" is the lower-calorie version, "Bohemia" the craft alternative beer (Pilsner style, significantly better). A Presidente Grande costs 100–150 DOP (1.50–2.50 USD) at the Colmado, 200–300 DOP in a restaurant.

Coffee

Dominican coffee is among the best in the world — especially from the mountain regions of Jarabacoa, Barahona, and Ocoa. However, it is not drunk as filter coffee, but as Café Santo Domingo — a strong, sweet espresso served in tiny cups. A Cafecito costs 25 DOP (0.40 USD) at the street stand. Also try the "Café con Leche" — coffee with warm milk, thick and sweet.