Local Drinks

For those of you who like an occasional drink, or even lots of drinks, or like something tropical or fruity while on vacation, here are some examples of what the locals offer, and what they drink personally.

Let's start with beer.
Imported - are the usual well-known beers here like Heineken, Budweiser, Miller, etc..but they cost more because they are on the imported list. Imported here means the companies have been charged a large tax to be able to bring their brand into the country. So, naturally they have to charge more. These type of beers run around 40 pesos up to 120 pesos, depending on hwere you are drinking. Yes, there is that much difference in price for the same beer, because you are paying for environment. It's the same as getting a beer from a local liquor store compared to getting it at a high class bar.
Domestic - There are a few beer distilleries in the country, but there is one that is far and above the biggest and most well-known to locals. It is the San Miguel Brewing Company (San Mig). They have been around a very long time, and produce numerous different beers and liquors. They make many strengths of the same beer. They have San Mig cerveza negra, a very dark and strong beer. Then there is regular San Mig, which is the first and oldest that they started with. It is also exported to other countries, including the U.S. Then there is my favorite, San Mig Lite (SML), which tastes very much like Miller Lite. Then there is the strongest beer made here. Red Horse. It comes in a larger bottle and is stronger than other beers. It is very popular here , too, because it doesn't take too many to get your buzz, if that's what you're looking for. I do not know the other companies brands very well, as I do not drink much of them.

Then there is hard alcohol.
Again, there are numerous brewing companies, but again, the number one, by far, is San Mig. They make Gin mostly. It is the most well-known, and recognized drink in the country. About 85 to 90% of all drinks consumed here is San Mig Gin. I do not drink this gin personally, but all my friends do, and we sell it in our store. It is usually sold in 350ml bottles, and is locally called bilog (meaning round), because the bottle is round shaped.
The cost in our store is 42 pesos per bottle (around $1.80). It is also sold in 700ml bottles, and is locally called quatro (meaning four),or quatro kantos (four corners), because the bottle is square. The cost is 84 pesos (around $3.60)The way they drink it is unusual to foreigners. They do not normally mix it with anything, as we might. They take a shot glass, and use a chaser (usually water or juice). Each pers. on takes a shot, in order, around the table, followed with a bit of chaser. If you try to skip your turn you will be chastised by everyone at the table. So if you're not serious about drinking, then you better not sit down at the table. It is not part of their protocol to skip around the table. It is done in order, so everyone gets an equal share. It's not the most sanitary thing to do, but this is much more of a community environment that we are used to.
Other companies produce a few drinks that are also pretty well-known, such as Emporador (EM-P for short). It is brandy, and is sold in long neck bottles, and is my wifes favorite when she does drink. I like it ok, but it always give me heartburn. It costs around 90 pesos per bottle (almost $2). There is also Fundador (also brandy), but we do not drink much of this. Then there is Johnny Walker, a brand poular around the world, but much too expensive for the locals to buy daily. As you may know, there is J.W. red, black, blue, green, and others. The most expensive here may cost around 5500 pesos per bottle (around $110). So you can see that it is quite out of reach for most of them, and for me too. They do buy some on special occasions. If I am drinking with friends, I usually drink SML or I mix EMP with sprite. I occasionally get a bottle of whiskey when in the mood.

Just to throw in a few notes about sodas.
They have all the brand names that you may be used to, like Coke, Sprite, Royal, and others. They also have their own soda factories that make pretty good stuff. Their best drink, in my opinion, is Mirinda, an orange soda that, to me, is the best I've ever tasted anywhere. They also have Sparkle, which is a lemon-lime soda much like sprite, but more tangy. Coke is very popular here, and can be purchased anywhere. There are a few ways to buy soda here, and it depends on if it is in a glass bottle or plastic bottle. If it is in a glass bottle (10 or 12 oz), it will be emptied into a thin plastic bag, with a straw put in, and given to you like that. They do not want you to take the glass bottle, as they have to pay a deposit on it. The most convenient way to buy a soda here is in a 12 oz plastic bottle, locally called mismo, that of course you can take with you. The cost is around 12 to 15 pesos ($.13). In our store we sell a bigger coke in a glass bottle, locally called a kasalo. It costs around 20 pesos ($.45), but they must have an empty bottle for exchange, or they have to pay a deposit to take the bottle. Then there are the 1.5 litre bottles, in plastic, that are pupular for parties and groups. They cost around 45 to 50 pesos ($1). We sell them, also.

Then ther are mixed drinks.
As you might expect in a tropical place, there are many to choose from; most of which you are already familiar with. Mohitos, Daquiris, Pina Coladas, etc. But do not expect to get them just anywhere. This type of drinking is usually left to the foreigners and the upper class, and is usually only found in bars, restaurants, hotels, and resorts. Most locals could not possibly afford to be drinking these styles of drink, as they cost quite a bit more that gin.

Overall, they are plenty of choices here, for either beer, alcohol, or sodas. There are a huge amount of very small stores everywhere selling drinks, and bottled water. Even the locals drink bottled water. No one here drinks water out of the faucet or anywhere. You've heard to expression many times I'm sure. "Don't drink the water!". Very true. Don't even drink water at a bar or restaurant unless it's in a bottle. Unless you just feel like getting sick. Which I doubt is true!