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What to drink in Jamaica? Top 12 Jamaican Beverages

Last update: Wed Feb 19 2025
Top 12 Jamaican Beverages
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Jamaican Beverage Types

01
Planter's Punch
Planter's Punch infographic
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Planter’s Punch is a popular cocktail made with dark Caribbean rum, grenadine, sugar syrup, and fresh juice from oranges, pineapples, and lemons. All ingredients are shaken with ice, then poured into a large glass. The cocktail is topped with Angostura bitters and garnished with a pineapple wedge and a cocktail cherry.


There are two theories about its origin – some say it was invented at the Planter’s Hotel in St. Louis, while others say it was made by a Jamaican planter’s wife who made it to cool down the workers. Regardless of these claims, the first written recipe for Planter’s Punch can be traced back to the 1908 article in the New York Times.

02
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Tia Maria is a Jamaican coffee liqueur that was first introduced in the 1940s. The base is made with Jamaican rum, and the flavorings include Jamaican coffee and vanilla beans from Madagascar. The drink is smooth, fragrant, and full-bodied while the usual notes include aromas of vanilla and coffee.


Although Dr. Kenneth Leigh Evans was the first to commercialize Tia Maria, it is believed that he based his recipe on an ancient Jamaican coffee liqueur which dates back to the mid-17th century. According to a legend, the recipe was owned by a young heiress who fled Jamaica to escape the war. 
03
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Peanut punch is a popular Jamaican beverage that is most commonly made with a combination of peanut butter (or roasted peanuts), water, condensed milk, and flavorings such as vanilla, nutmeg, honey, and cinnamon. Many Jamaicans consider it an aphrodisiac, and it is especially beloved due to the fact that it is quite high in protein.


Throughout Jamaica, this drink is typically sold by street vendors called punch men, who often use secret ingredients such as local seaweed in order to make the claim of having the best peanut punch on the island.

04
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Irish moss is a Jamaican beverage made with the eponymous algae officially named Chondrus crispus. These nutritious algae were introduced by Irish immigrants—hence the colloquial name and the name of the drink. To prepare the beverage, the moss is washed and is then boiled with milk and various spices.


The typical choice includes cinnamon, vanilla, and nutmeg. The varieties of the drink abound; some variations include condensed milk, oats, or peanuts. The latter is a variation on a similar Jamaican drink known as peanut punch. The algae contain carrageenan, a polysaccharide commonly used as a thickener. 
05
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Sangster's rum cream is a rum-based liqueur that hails from Jamaica. It combines fresh cream and aged Jamaican rum. The drink is creamy and smooth, with subtle nuances reminiscent of coffee, toffee, and nuts. It is bottled at 17% ABV.


The drink was created by Scotsman Ian Sangster, who allegedly came to Jamaica in 1967 with the intention to teach at the University of West Indies. He soon left his teaching career and went to create an array of flavored rums. After his death in 2001, the company was acquired by J. 
06
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Pimento dram is a spiced Jamaican liqueur made from allspice berries (lat. Pimenta dioica). This liqueur is popular in Caribbean culture and is characterized by its rich, complex flavor that combines notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and a hint of pepper.


Pimento dram is typically made by steeping allspice berries in a base spirit, often rum, along with sugar and water to create a balanced, sweet, and spicy liqueur. The resulting flavor is warm and robust, making it a versatile addition to various cocktails. 
07
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The Goldeneye is a Jamaican cocktail made with a combination of rum, pineapple juice, and lime juice. In order to prepare it, all ingredients should be shaken with ice or blended, then poured into a lowball glass garnished with a pineapple wedge or a lime wheel.


The name of the cocktail is a reference to the popular James Bond movie, but it is also the name of the former home of novelist Ian Fleming, who wrote the James Bond books.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Jamaican Beverage Producers

01

Spirit

JAMAICA, Caribbean
5.0
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AWARDS

USC- Ultimate Spirits Challenge - Top 100

2023

BEST MEZAN Spirits
02

Spirit

BLACK RIVER, Jamaica
5.0
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AWARDS

Bartender Spirits Awards - Double Gold

2023

BEST Lookout Beverages Group Spirits
03

Spirit

JAMAICA, Caribbean
4.8
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AWARDS

ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Double Gold

2020, 2019

The Rum & Cachaça Masters - Gold

2023, 2022

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold

2023, 2022, 2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Jamaican Beverages