Buying Cigars and Rum in Dominican Republic?

Question

We will be visiting Puerto Plata soon. Is it better to buy Rum and Cigars at the airport? Are the prices for these items cheaper near or around our hotel? I heard there is a Sea World there, does anyone know the entrance fee? Where is the best place to buy amber jewelry? My friend smokes Cigars, which brand is the best, and the mildest to smoke, in other words not too strong? Where is a good place to shop for clothes in Puerto Plata?

Thank You

Answer 1

Definitely get some Brugal rum. You can find bottles at shops for a lot cheaper than the airport. I think we got some for like $6-8.

Answer 2

Wow....you are full of questions!

Rum (Brugal and Barcelo) are of course available at the Airport, but you really don't want to buy them there - way to overpriced there. Visit any of the supermercados and you will find them for much less.

Ocean World is there in Puerta Plata. It is pretty expensive for the Dominican Republic, but great for tourist. The price is $55 for adults. Check out their website below.

Cigars: There are so many here. Some of the best include the A.F. churchill, Don Elias, and on and on. In Puerto Plata try The Fine Gift Center in Calle Doce de Julio (12th of July Street). Upstairs they have a cigar museum/workshop where you might get to try a couple of handmades there & then!! The other place to try is Canoa Gift shop in Beller (lower part nearer the port), again, they have a man making them most of the day & you can get a smoke first before buying!!

The Amber Museum is right there in Puerta Plata. try there and around the town for amber jewelry. Also check out the link below for more information.

Answer 3

the best places to go are as far from the touristy spots as possible. i think Santiago is the next big city, you can find good prices there. i could be wrong but Puerto Plata is on the north coast i think.

you can pick up like 10 bottles for $10 American dollars, so stock up. cigars, i'm not really sure. look for Brugal or Barcelo, those are some big rums. wrape them up in towels and dirty clothes, cuz they'll go thru your ***** and confiscate at the airport.

only go into the city, IF YOU COULD TALK REAL SPANISH. not high school Spanish.

Answer 4

Our favorite Brugal Añejo with the yellow net, just add soda and squeeze a lime and you will simply love it! Regarding 2 posts above me, we got back not even a month ago with at least 3 bottles of rum purchased at a local store and had no problem whatsoever. Those bottles are closed like any other liquor you purchase. We also brought about 6 or 7 Presidente beers (jumbo) and 2 Benedictas all purchased at local markets and had no problems either. Our were even wrapped with newspaper...All you need to do is tip the guys checking the stuff when they want to take the stuff away. You already spent enuff for them, save couple of dollars no pesos, dollars and tip them and they will not give you hell. This last time we didn't even have to tip anyone but just in case always bring few $1 bill rolled up. In the years that i have been travelling to DR never had any alcohol taken away, never!

Answer 5

Buying Rum

Answer 6

At the Airport for sure. Duty Free shops in most Carib. airports are extremely cheap and the selection is great. When we went to Punta Cana we bought some rum and vodka at the airport and paid about a 1/3rd the price I am used to paying. Outside the airport we didnt see much, and what we did see look overpriced.

Answer 7

Santo Domingo is the capital of the Dominican Republic and the oldest European city in the Americas and if you want to see one of many UNESCO World Heritage List then, this hotelbye could be the place. Santo Domingo is just a collage of cultures and neighborhoods. It's where the appears of living, domino pieces slapped on platforms, backfiring mufflers and horns from crazy traffic. In the center of the city could be the Zona Colonial, wherever you will find among the oldest churches and the oldest remaining European. Also, in the Zona Colonial you will discover Gazcue, one of many city's oldest neighborhoods, filled with previous Victorian houses and tree-lined streets.

Answer 8

Stogie 101

We all know that cigars are trendy, but with so many to choose from who really knows how to buy them? The Dominican Republic boasts over 600,000 acres of tobacco plantations and dozens of cigar brands. What cigars you buy and the way you handle them will distinguish you from the average Joe, and give you certain respectability from fellow cigar aficionados. Here is a little history and a few tips on how to shop for and smoke your stogies.
THE PROCESS:
Did you know the cigar-making process can take as much as three years to complete? They begin like most other crops after the first seed has been planted. Four months later this the plant is ready to be harvested. The ripe leaves are hand picked and dried immediately by hanging them for between 6-8 weeks. The leaves are then sorted by color, size, and texture. Then, they are placed in a final fermentation process for two months, and can sit in a cigar factory to age for up to 2 years depending on the type.
WHAT TO SHOP FOR:
FRESHNESS: slightly pinch the cigar at the head with two fingers. A well-made cigar should be tender. Cracks in the wrapper tell you that they have not been kept at the right temperature and have lost their taste.
COLOR: Although the wrapper, filler and bind come from different parts of the plant, the color of the stogies should be uniform. Note, this is also true when buying a box. It is perfectly acceptable to verify if all are of the same shade.
AROMA: A well-constructed cigar has an exceptional pre-smoke aroma. If you prefer a little novelty, certain brands offer their own special touch like Cojimar with its sugar tipped multi-flavored cigars.
A FEW REMINDERS: So you talk the talk, but can walk the walk? Here are four reminders to help you fit in when holding your stogie: First, THE BAND: the band (the paper ring around the cigar) is a debated topic among smokers. The warmth of the smoke eases its removal. The truth is that if you want to keep it on as a badge of pride, go ahead! Second, INHALING: Smoke from a cigar should be tasted, not inhaled. Third, CHEWING: Holding your cigar with your teeth dampens the tip and makes it more difficult to draw. Last, SMOKING: Beginners should smoke after supper to prevent stomach cramps. Also remember that cigars smell strong, so think of others before you light up.


Rum: History and Classification
The Spanish conquistadores first found cane in the Canary and Azore Islands. While on his second voyage to the Americas, Christopher Columbus transplanted this new spice to Hispaniola, which has an ideal climate for sugar production. Sugar mill operators soon noticed after harvesting the sugar, there was a leftover juice, known today as molasses. By the 1650s this former waste product was being distilled. In the English colonies it was called “rumbullion”, which was shortened over the years to our modern word Rum, or “ron” in Spanish.
Rum is made by distilling fermented sugar and water. This sugar comes from the sugar cane and is fermented from cane juice, concentrated cane juice, or molasses. Molasses is the sweet, sticky residue that remains after sugar cane juice is boiled and the crystallized sugar is extracted.

! Did you know: The British navy adopted a daily ration of a half-pint of 160 proof Rum by the 1730’s? This ration was later modified by mixing with an equal amount of water to produce a drink called “grog”. The grog ration remained a staple of British naval life until 1969.

Classifications of Rum
•White Rums are generally light-bodied. These are primarily used as mixers and blend particularly well with fruit flavors.
•Golden Rums, or Amber Rums, are generally medium-bodied. Most have spent several years aging in oak casks, giving them a smooth palate.
•Dark Rums are traditionally full-bodied, rich, caramel-dominated rums. The richest of these rums are consumed straight up.
•Spiced Rums can be white, golden, or dark. They are infused with spices or fruit flavors.
•Añejo and Age-Dated Rums are aged rums. The youngest rum in the blend contains a blend of rums that are at least 10 years old.
* For those that wish to learn more about rum, or get comprehensive ratings visit www.tastings.com

Answer 9

Hello, all the folks that have answered before me have given you very good advise, except for buying rum at the local supermarket, because of security concerns, you will not be allowed to carry any bottles through the security checkpoints. You must buy any rum you want to take back at the duty-free shops.

Answer 10

wait till u get to the airport you, people come to the resorts and sell things but really it is cheaper at the airport get the presidentaies they are the best almost like cubans great shop at the airport