The sprit industry in the Dominican Republic centers around rum; given the importance of sugar can in the nation's economy, this is a natural. There are numerous styles, from extra dry, which is clear, aged for two to five years in oak casks to riserva, that are aged for a few years more, usually in sherry casks, which imparts a tawny or amber color. A few of these older rums are aged for 25-30 years.
Dominican rum has tantalizing flavors of roasted nuts, toffee, honeycomb, coffee and praline. The offer excellent complexity, with the younger offerings displaying fruit overtones, while the older examples display a long, elegant finish with dried leaf and tobacco notes. These are voluptuous rums.