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GuideDominican rum
The three old rum houses, what the "Ron Dominicano" label means, and how to order a glass.
Rum country
Sugarcane has grown on Hispaniola since the colonial era, and rum is the country's spirit. Three of its rum houses, Bermúdez, Brugal and Barceló, go back to 1852, 1888 and 1930.
The three houses
| House | Founded | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Bermúdez | 1852 | The oldest of the Dominican rum producers. |
| Brugal | 1888, Puerto Plata | Founded by Andrés Brugal Montaner. Its Brugal 1888 is aged first in American oak, then in sherry casks. |
| Barceló | 1930 | The family dates its rum to 1929 and the company to a year later. |
What "Ron Dominicano" means
Since 2021 the Dominican Republic has set rules for what may be labelled Ron Dominicano. The heart of it is the raw material: the rum has to be made from sugarcane, molasses or cane juice grown in the Dominican Republic. If the label says Ron Dominicano, the cane is local.
How to order
- Neat or on one ice cube: the way to taste an aged rum. Ask for "un trago" of whatever the bartender recommends.
- With cola and lime: the classic long drink.
- In a cocktail: tell the bartender you want rum and how sweet you like it.
- As mamajuana: rum steeped with bark and herbs. Read about it in our Dominican drinks guide.
At Malecon Vibes the rum sits on the bottle wall behind the bar; point at a label and ask what it is. See the menu.
Sources: El Dinero (eldinero.com.do), "La embriagante industria del ron dominicano" and "Ron dominicano, aquí y en el exterior"; Caribbean Journal, "The Dominican Republic's Ron Brugal 1888". Drink responsibly; you must be 18 or older to buy alcohol in the Dominican Republic.
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