The
Zona Colonial of Santo Domingo is the first permanent European
settlement of the New World, and a wonderful place to spend the day
walking about and exploring it's 16th-19th century streets and
buildings. The first settlement in the area of Santo Domingo was
established by Bartholomew Columbus (Chris' brother) on the East bank of
the Ozama River. A major hurricane in 1502 caused the soon to be city
to be moved to the current location of the Zona Colonial on the West bank
of the river.
The Zona is not purely a tourist attraction, it is a working urban neighborhood, with plenty of locals living in the old Spanish architecture. We made it a point to seek out a colmados (half corner store, half bar, and wholly a local hangout.) to enjoy a beer and shoot a video piece for Two Brews. Sitting there for a beer and a rest in the shade while chatting with the locals doing exactly the same was a real and wonderful connection to the people and the place that makes the Zona Colonial and the Dominican Republic such a special place to visit.
The Zona is not purely a tourist attraction, it is a working urban neighborhood, with plenty of locals living in the old Spanish architecture. We made it a point to seek out a colmados (half corner store, half bar, and wholly a local hangout.) to enjoy a beer and shoot a video piece for Two Brews. Sitting there for a beer and a rest in the shade while chatting with the locals doing exactly the same was a real and wonderful connection to the people and the place that makes the Zona Colonial and the Dominican Republic such a special place to visit.
Our
bar tender Emilio, a very fun character and one hell of a bar tender.
He was very excited when I asked for morir soñando and was happy to make
it for me (and share one) the next few days. He brought in the
ingredients just because I asked. Did I mention he is also a song and
dance man?
Morir soñando (die dreaming) is a very popular local beverage of the Dominican Republic. Most families make it with orange juice, evaporated milk, cane sugar, and chopped ice, with cubed ice added at the end. Being the Caribbean, you can of course also add rum. What you end up with with a smooth, sweet, wonderful drink that tastes a lot like a Creamsicle. With rum.
El
Presidente, the preeminent beer of the Domincan Republic. If you ask
for cerveza, you will get Presidente, and that's not a hardship. Severed
on the brink of freezing, it's light, malty, and a perfect hot weather
beach beer. A pilsner, Presidente is owned and brewed by Cervecería
Nacional Dominicana at several locations in the Dominican Republic.
First brewed in 1929 by U.S. industrialist Charles H. Wanzer, Presidente quickly became the iconic Dominican beer. By 1935 production was in full swing, albeit with a dark beer recipe and not the light pilsner known today. The beer was named in honor of then Dominican president Rafael Leonidas Trujillo. (Noted not nice guy, but they kept the name) The current much loved pilsner formula was launched in the 1960's and quickly dominated the local beer market far surpassing the dark version's sales.
Presidente Light is just what it sounds like, light, and rather unimpressive. The cans taste like beer shipped in cans, also unimpressive. As always, look for the regular in a glass bottle.
First brewed in 1929 by U.S. industrialist Charles H. Wanzer, Presidente quickly became the iconic Dominican beer. By 1935 production was in full swing, albeit with a dark beer recipe and not the light pilsner known today. The beer was named in honor of then Dominican president Rafael Leonidas Trujillo. (Noted not nice guy, but they kept the name) The current much loved pilsner formula was launched in the 1960's and quickly dominated the local beer market far surpassing the dark version's sales.
Presidente Light is just what it sounds like, light, and rather unimpressive. The cans taste like beer shipped in cans, also unimpressive. As always, look for the regular in a glass bottle.
Being
a great place to grow sugar cane makes the Dominican Republic a logical
place to also make some of the world's best rum. There is no shortage
of house and high-end distilleries to visit and taste, so book your trip
now and get started!