I've never really been into mixed drinks or cocktails. I usually just drink straight rum or beer. I drink Santiago de Cuba 8 year at my casa and Havana Club 7 at bars when my 1st choice isn't available. For beers I always stick to the Cuban brands, even though the imports are always cheaper. I miss what I used to call "peso beer". Cacique (20 cup) and Mayabe (18 cup) were in cans (sill are) and then there were the local bottled beers at 10 cup (Princessa, Hatuey, Bruja, etc). Haven't seen any of those in many years (bottle shortage I guess). Still see it on draft sometimes in small local shops. I found Mayabe in Havana on my last trip for around 250 cup a can. Don't recall seeing Cacique.

And of course everyone has to have at least 1 mojito while in Cuba. I know the resorts often don't have the ingredients to make one. I think my last one was at the Hotel Nacional in Havana many years ago. My last rum based drink was at the La Zorra jazz club. You had a choice of a few different ones with your cover charge. Remember the Ron Collins CW?

What a great thread to start Simon! What would a Cuba trip be without a drink or two or sixty.
I usually don’t drink rum or any other liquor straight because it in interferes with the needs of my sweet tooth. I will do a shot here and there though.
For beer, I ain’t too fussy. I have had all types Cuban and not. Too many different to name. I remember liking Cacique.
The hard stuff is almost always Rum while in Cuba. I like rum ‘n sprite. Is that what was in the Tom Collins at Jazz Club La Zorra y el Cuervo? I have had a zillion mojitos over the years. I also like to join lady friends in having a pina colada together. I do not however like to taint my cola drinks with anything.

My drink is always a Cuba Libre (Rum, Coke and some lime). Mojitos are good. For beer it is Buccanero or Cristal when they are available. I have drank foreign cervesas as well on occasion. That is when I am in the city.

Buccanero has a higher alcohol content at 5.4 and to me just tastes stronger for the sake of being stronger. I prefer the lighter Mayabe at only 4% when it's really sweltering out. I have the odd Cuba Libre every now and then. I find the Havana Club reserva is the best rum for this drink. I'm not sure what was in that beverage CW. I just remember a bunch of sugar at the bottom of the glass. I thought it was made with soda water. Could be wrong. I'm sure I've had a pina colada or other type of slushy drink at a resort in Cuba. I just don't recall.

I'm with Jhenry on the Bucanero - that's ALL that I would drink if it was always available. I love that beer so much that one of our water tanks on top of our casa roof is a giant can of Bucanero! jaja But for mixed drinks, Havana Club 7 year all the way with either TuKola, Canada Dry Ginger Ale, or any kind of lemon-lime soda. But I also many times will just drink that Havana Club 7 year on the rocks too. Or even better - Havana Club Seleccion de Maestros on the rocks - now THAT is like nectar of the Gods! Love that oak barrel aroma and the taste of vanilla y chocolate. Fuerte though - its 45%... a true 90 proof. But smooth as silk. Terry

Btw, that's my wife Yudith sitting in front of our giant can of Bucanero. We were recently sitting up there on the roof of our casa catching the breeze while waiting out yet another daily blackout in Camaguey city. I think I might have been drinking a can of Bucanero too at that time. Life imitating ART??

Simon, I remember now what was in that drink at the jazz club. It was a mojito in a Tom Collins glass but without mint. They didn’t have any. That is why there was sugar on the bottom. Apparently the Tom Collins drink is a gin drink. Those drinks were free as part of the 1000 pesos cover charge. Another drink they offered was rum and orange pop. I wasn’t a fan of that.
I was thinking of taking some mint to Cuba but the authorities might confuse it with marijahootzy.

I love a good Mojito too any time we go out for dinner together in Camaguey city, but yes, it's difficult to find a Cuban bartender who knows how to make one correctly. In Cam, the best Mojitos that I've ever had in my life have always been at Restaurante La Isabella, an Italian eatery - the food is spectacular there too - like out of this world GOOD. Although the best Italian restaurant in ALL of Camaguey city has always been Casa Italia - owned and operated by an Italian dude who immigrated to Cuba and lives in Cam. Casa Italia is the only Italian restaurant where they actually ask you if you want your spaghetti al dente. NICE! Great Prosciutto for starters too. But for Mojitos, and for me personally, it's crazy that I have to go to a restaurant to get the best Mojito in Camaguey city. Even the bohemian bar El Cambio can't make a good one! Unless I'm always telling the guy - mas azucar!! Terry

I forgot to mention red wine. Every supper I like to have red wine. This is mostly at a resort. I have no idea what kinds of wines I am getting and to tell the truth they are not really good wines anyway but always when on vacation I have red wine for dinner. At home only on special occasions. Whether on holiday or at home my wife only has half a glass. No complaints from me!

We are not heavy drinkers by any stretch but when on vacation we seem to consume a lot more than normal.

The wine we drink on resort is fine but I remember one time we bought a bottle in Havana and it was rather lousy. It was not Cuban wine however if there is such a thing. We both love mojitos and also Cristal and Bucanero for beer.

Is that a Bucanero beer tank or water tank on your roof Terry?

Well, it's a tank full of Bucanero BEER, Wess! You see the tap at the bottom? It's refrigerated too! Just put your mug under and a new freshie is ready for ya lickity-split. YEA RIGHT! In a perfect world, amigo. Only in a perfect world! Terry

As far as rum goes, I also enjoy the 10 year Ron Cubay. The Havana Club 15 year old is not worth it's extravagant price. I used to buy it for my dad, but not anymore. I bought him the 12 year Santiago last time. I also drink wine at resorts with dinner. I figure, since I already paid for it, I may as well drink it. The Soroa region of Cuba used to make wine. A horrible tasting red and the white was even worse.

The last several years there has been a huge increase in Dutch and other European beer brands in Cuba. Presidente from the DR and Corona from Mexico are also commonplace. I few years ago in Sancti Spiritus I saw Moosehead. Seen it again in Havana this year.

We have photos of us drinking Presidente beer in Cuba and DR. I never thought of that. I looked it up and found that it is a beer from the DR but available in Cuba also at certain places.