Last Easter, a couple of friends decided to go to the Caribbean for a few days, so I tagged along. We went to the Dominican Republic. As soon as we arrived at the hotel in Santo Domingo, we were greeted by their wonderful staff with a drink I had never heard of before, but which has become a favourite both in flavour and memories: the tornado.
The Dominican Republic turned out to be a vibrant, hectic and incredibly invigorating experience. We spent quite a lot of our time wandering the streets of the capital and became fixated by its people. The stories we heard mostly involved two topics: merengue and tornado cocktails. Merengue is a type of music and dance from the Dominican Republic. It was created by Nico Lora in the 1920s. There is a saying in the country which goes: “It does not matter if you are rich or poor, it is all about the rhythm in your hips.” And believe me, the people there can dance!
The tornado is a classic in local bars and dances. It is both a straight drink and a cocktail. The cocktail version is a little milder than the original one, but still has a punch. The main ingredient in it is dark rum, which is not surprising as it is the most important beverage Central America produces. It has a sweet and pleasant taste, and you can sip tornados endlessly on a warm summer evening, especially in the Caribbean.
One piece of advice: Be sure to shake this drink well to ensure the egg white mixes with the other ingredients. It is called tornado for a reason! (Another drink that uses egg white is the pisco sour. I definitely recommend it!)
The trip turned out to be a success, and I have since become a fan of both meringue music and tornado cocktails. The Dominican Republic is a place where I certainly want to return in the near future.
Tags: cocktail, dark rum, egg white, lemon, light rum, passion fruit juice, The Tornado
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Oooh! Sounds dangerous!