Top 68 Caribbean Beverages

A unique, pre-sweetened type of espresso that originated in Cuba known as café Cubano is often referred to as Cuban espresso, Cuban coffee, Cuban pull, or Cuban shot. Although it holds a unique status in Cuba, where it traditionally stands as the essential social and cultural beverage, Cuban espresso is also very popular and widely available throughout Latin America and Florida. It consists of an espresso shot that is sweetened with demerara sugar while being brewed. This espresso variety is made by brewing the darker roasts with sugar, which results in light-brown foam on top of the coffee. Cuban-style espresso is considered a mid-afternoon standard that is typically served alongside a glass of water. For an authentic Cuban experience, it is best to pair it with a fine Cuban cigar.Expand

Coquito is a traditional cocktail similar to eggnog. It is typically prepared and consumed during the festive Christmas season. The cocktail is made with a combination of coconut milk, rum, condensed milk, and vanilla, although every family has their own variation. In order to prepare it, all ingredients should be blended, then chilled and served in small glasses. It is recommended to garnish coquito with nutmeg on top. The name of this drink means little coconut. In Cuba, they serve it with scoops of coconut ice cream, while the Spanish people serve it with turron.Expand

Sugary, refreshing, and herbaceous, Mojito is a traditional cocktail based on rum as the key ingredient. It has a relatively low alcohol content (about 10%). Although Havana is considered its birthplace, the origin of this simple cocktail is still disputed. The original Cuban cocktail recipe includes white rum, sugar, lime juice, soda water, and spearmint yerba buena that grows on the island, but almost every mint variety can be used in the mix if yerba buena is not available. The components of the cocktail are added in a particular order: sugar and lime juice are gently mashed before mint and rum are added to the combination; the cocktail is then briefly stirred and topped with ice and sparkling soda water. Mojito is usually served in a glass garnished with lime wedges and mint leaves. It is considered one of the most popular summer cocktails, which gained worldwide popularity when it was presented as the favorite drink of Ernest Hemingway. There are several versions of Mojito, and many bars in Havana use Angostura bitters or add lemons instead of lime to cut Mojito's sweetness. The so-called Rose Mojito contains rose-flavored spirit Lanique, while a Mojito made without alcohol is called Virgin Mojito or Nojito.Expand

Rum Punch is a classic Caribbean cocktail made with rum, fruit juice, sugar syrup, and water. To prepare it, all you need to do is remember this Caribbean saying: “One of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, and four of weak.” A shot of fruit juice, two shots of sugar syrup, three shots of rum, and four shots of water are combined in a big glass or a jug, then poured into a glass over ice. It is recommended to add a few drops of bitters or some freshly grated nutmeg to elevate the flavors even further. Garnish it with a pineapple wedge for the best possible experience.Expand

Frozen daiquiri is a variation of a classic shaken daiquiri, which typically incorporates rum, fresh lime juice, and sugar. This frozen version is mostly blended and usually includes pulverized ice and frozen fruit to mix, creating a sweet slurry with a texture similar to a slushie. Frozen daiquiris probably first appeared at the legendary El Floridita in Havana, sometime around the time of Prohibition. They were initially made with crushed ice and electric blenders, but their popularity skyrocketed in the second half of the 20th century after the invention of commercial machines. Banana and strawberry daiquiris were probably the most famous derivations at the time. Through the years, the drink went through many transformations that sometimes significantly differ from the original. They went to include sugar-packed syrups and artificial flavorings, earing frozen daiquiri somewhat of a bad rep. Frozen daiquiri is especially popular in Louisiana, and most local bars specializing in frozen daiquiris have several machines that dispense various daiquiri flavors. Expand

Guarapo is a Latin American drink made from raw, pressed sugarcane juice mixed with water, ice, and lots of fresh limes. Most often, the vendors that sell it will extract the sugar cane juice right on the spot using a metal sugar cane press. The juice drips into a bucket below the press where it’s sieved before serving. It has a slightly sweet flavor, and it’s most popular in the summer as a cold refreshment. The word guarapo was first recorded in the 19th century by Esteban Pichardo, who defines it as a broth or a liquid made from sugarcane juice, extracted under pressure. Both the word and the procedure are still around after almost two centuries.Expand

Daiquiri is a group of cocktails prepared with rum, fresh lime juice, and sugar as the key ingredients. Supposedly, it was invented in the late 19th century by Jennings Cox, an American mining engineer who was staying in Cuba during the Spanish-American War. The cocktail was named after the beach and an iron mine near Santiago de Cuba. The drink was probably introduced to high-class New Yorkers in 1902 by a US congressman who purchased the Santiago iron mines, but it gained fame during World War II when trade and travel relations with Latin America opened up due to Roosevelt’s Good Neighbor policy, so Latin America became fashionable. It is quite simple to prepare a good Daiquiri: all ingredients are shaken with ice, and then poured into a chilled glass garnished with a lime wheel. Variations of the classic Daiquiri include Banana Daiquiri, Avocado Daiquiri, and Hemingway Daiquiri or Papa Doble, a slightly bitter cocktail made without sugar, but with the addition of maraschino liqueur and grapefruit juice, named after the famous writer who loved it. There is also the Frozen Daiquiri, a variety with finely pulverized ice and a texture similar to that of a smoothie.Expand

Cuba Libre is a Cuban cocktail based on rum, with the addition of cola and lime. In Spanish, its name means Free Cuba, and although the exact origin of this cocktail is still a mystery, it was probably first mixed in Havana in August 1900, after the Spanish-American war, when Coca-Cola was available in Cuba. In the past, the cocktail was viewed as exotic, but nowadays it is popular throughout the world, and it is often referred to as Rum and Coke. A common way to serve it is on the rocks with a lime wheel, but some variations (such as Rum and Coke) exclude the lime wheel or substitute white rum with golden or dark rum. Expand

Dark rum is probably the most complex and confusing rum category. The term is often differently explained, but it is mostly used to classify longer-aged rum styles with more pronounced flavors. Although the color is primarily attained from long-term aging in charred sherry or bourbon barrel, it can also be obtained from different distillation techniques, longer contact with molasses, and the addition of caramel. To add to the confusion, the term dark rum is sometimes used to distinguish it for clear, white rum or to denote Demerara rum from Guyana. Good-quality dark rum can be appreciated neat, but it is also used in cocktails to provide a somewhat heavier element and more flavor. Expand

Coconut rum is a somewhat misleading term that mostly refers to coconut-flavored liqueurs typically based on rum. These liqueurs can have natural or artificial coconut flavors and aromas, while the base is usually made with white or gold rum. They typically do not have high alcohol content. Coconut-flavored rums are internationally produced, but their spiritual home remains on the Caribbean islands. Their light and aromatic character is best showcased in tropical cocktails. Expand

Angostura Limited, also known as the House of Angostura, is one of the world’s most renowned producers of aromatic bitters and premium rum. The brand dates back to 1824, when German doctor Johann Gottlieb Benjamin Siegert created his bitters as a digestive elixir for the military in the town of Angostura (now Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela).

Production was later moved to Trinidad, where it continues today according to a closely guarded secret recipe known only to a select few. Angostura bitters have become a global standard in mixology, instantly recognizable by their distinctive packaging featuring a yellow cap and an intentionally oversized label.

Over the years, the company has expanded its portfolio to include a wide range of premium rums, celebrated for their long aging process and rich flavor. The brand’s offerings also include liqueurs, carbonated beverages, and innovative rum-based products, and it has become an important export ambassador for Trinidad and Tobago.

Angostura blends tradition with innovation, building on two centuries of heritage while embracing modern trends in cocktail culture. Its products have won awards at international competitions, and its bitters are an essential staple in bars around the world.Expand

Eminente is a distinguished Cuban rum brand that embodies the revival of 19th-century Cuban rum-making traditions. Founded in 2020, the brand was conceived by César Martí, Cuba's youngest Maestro Ronero (master rum distiller), who has been honored with the prestigious title of Primer Maestro del Ron Cubano.

Eminente's rums are crafted using a significant proportion of aguardiente, a Cuban molasses eau-de-vie, which imparts rich aromatic complexity. The flagship product, Eminente Reserva, is made with 70% aged aguardiente and is aged for a minimum of seven years in white oak ex-whisky barrels.

This process results in a rich, full-bodied rum that combines the aesthetics of traditional Cuban light rum with the depth and complexity of older spirits.Expand

Rhum Barbancourt is a renowned Haitian rum producer, established in 1862 by Dupré Barbancourt, a native of the Cognac region in France. The company is celebrated for its high-quality rums, crafted from pure sugar cane juice and distilled using methods similar to those employed in cognac production.

Over the years, Rhum Barbancourt has become a national institution in Haiti, embodying the country's rich cultural heritage and commitment to excellence. Expand