101 Oliver Rum Tasting & Pairing And Taino Concept Store

Interesting and fun learning experience regarding the rum tasting. Santiago was a great guide. Nice little mall/shopping area as well, with much better selection of items and significantly better prices than at our resort. They also do cooking classes and coffee tastings as well, which we may have gone back for if we had more time on the island. Overall, would recommend this.

I try really hard not to leave negative reviews but this experience was so biblically disappointing I feel the need to share our time there. Firstly the taxi driver who picked us up at 11am to take us the location must have already been booked by the police as he was monumentally miserable. We arrived at the location undeterred to be greeted by our guide for the “Experience”. At first we were just left in the shop to browse the “double the price” goods prior the entering the sales arena that was to become the rum tasting. Then the guide arrived to show us in to the room were we were brainbashed by a formulaic presentation both TV and verbal about rum. All the way the guide was looking for the sale and smiling when we responded with the obligatory smile and nod. Some of the rum was accompanied by the provision of chocolate, salt, cheese and honey which it would be prudent to guard against a still breeze in fear of it disappearing from the table. After the moderate tasting and while some of the rum taste is slightly lingering, you are professionally propelled to the nearest sales point to part with you life savings in hopeful exchange for as many bottles of rum that you can transfer to your transport back to your chosen sanctuary away from possibly the hardest sales experience you will ever encounter, even if you have been to Cairo!. Back to the taxi and Mr Miserable to get us back to our hotel and the knowledge that we will NEVER EVER have the desire to EXPERIENCE an over priced hard sell rum tasting again…..it’s going to be store bought next time.

Had a fabulous time on the tour. Our guide was Felix who was very friendly and knowledgeable. He went through the different chocolates, coffee, and rums. We enjoyed learning about the different types of rum, and how to pair food with it and how it changes the taste of the rum. The shop had lots to offer for gifts and memories. The taxi service to and from the store was also very good and convenient. Can highly recommend the tour- great value for money

When we first arrived and saw the location, I honestly thought, “Oh my goodness, not another little shopping area where they want you to take a few tiny shots from plastic cups and then try to sell you a bottle of rum!” 😂 Boy, was I in for a surprise! The moment we walked inside and met Felix, everything changed! He was absolutely AMAZING! His knowledge, personality, hospitality, and passion for what he does turned what I thought might be an ordinary tourist stop into one of the most memorable experiences of our trip to the Dominican Republic. We began with a wonderful tasting experience that included chocolates ranging from creamy white chocolate all the way to rich, 100% pure chocolate. We sampled sweetened and unsweetened cocoa, along with light and dark coffee. Everything was delicious! Now, let me tell you about the coffee! ☕ I normally avoid coffee because caffeine can make me feel jittery and anxious. However, Felix took the time to explain the concept of coffee and the differences between the varieties. Thanks to his explanation, I learned something new and discovered a dark roast coffee that I genuinely enjoyed with just a little sugar and no cream! I was truly amazed! Then came the rum-tasting experience, and WOW! 😍 We were seated in a beautifully decorated room that felt like an elegant, intimate rum lounge. The gorgeous bar, beautiful kitchen finishes, authentic rum barrels, numbered bottles, and brandy snifters filled with rich, dark rum created such a sophisticated atmosphere. It was absolutely stunning! But the experience wasn’t just about drinking rum. We learned the HISTORY behind it! Felix walked us through the fascinating story of the rum, including its Cuban origins and its connection to the Dominican Republic. The video presentation was a wonderful addition, bringing the history to life and making the experience even more interesting. Next came the rum tasting and pairing! We learned how to appreciate the different varieties, observe the rum in our brandy snifters, and recognize the differences in aroma and flavor. We paired the rum with an incredible assortment of accompaniments, including chocolate, cheese, honey, jelly, and salt. Each pairing brought out something different, and it was fascinating to experience how the flavors complemented one another. The samples were delicious, the presentation was impressive, and Felix made everything engaging, educational, and fun. By the time we finished, I was definitely feeling those rum samples! 😂🥃 It was an unforgettable experience from beginning to end. Felix, THANK YOU for such a wonderful experience! Your warmth, patience, knowledge, and genuine hospitality made all the difference. You didn’t simply serve us samples; you shared a story, taught us something new, and created an experience we will remember long after our vacation. And here’s another surprise: they also offer cooking classes! So don’t just pass by this location or assume it’s another ordinary shopping stop. Take the time to explore what they offer. I would encourage everyone to look into their experiences and book a visit. We would absolutely do this again! 101 Oliver Rum Tasting & Pairing gets 10+ stars from us! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 If you’re visiting the Dominican Republic and looking for something unique, educational, delicious, and memorable, PLEASE put this experience on your list! And there’s MORE! 🎉 In addition to the rum tastings, chocolate and coffee experiences, and cooking classes, they also offer cigar-making classes, where you can learn how to make your own cigars and enjoy samples as part of the experience! This makes 101 Oliver a destination with something for everyone interested in learning about the culture, craftsmanship, and flavors of the Dominican Republic. 🇩🇴 Don’t make the mistake of passing this place by or assuming it’s just another tourist shopping stop. Go inside, meet Felix, and discover the experience for yourself. You may be just as pleasantly surprised as we were!

When we first arrived and saw the location, I honestly thought, “Oh my goodness, not another little shopping area where they want you to take a few tiny shots from plastic cups and then try to sell you a bottle of rum!” 😂 Boy, was I in for a surprise! The moment we walked inside and met Felix, everything changed! He was absolutely AMAZING! His knowledge, personality, hospitality, and passion for what he does turned what I thought might be an ordinary tourist stop into one of the most memorable experiences of our trip to the Dominican Republic. We began with a wonderful tasting experience that included chocolates ranging from creamy white chocolate all the way to rich, 100% pure chocolate. We sampled sweetened and unsweetened cocoa, along with light and dark coffee. Everything was delicious! Now, let me tell you about the coffee! ☕ I normally avoid coffee because caffeine can make me feel jittery and anxious. However, Felix took the time to explain the concept of coffee and the differences between the varieties. Thanks to his explanation, I learned something new and discovered a dark roast coffee that I genuinely enjoyed with just a little sugar and no cream! I was truly amazed! Then came the rum-tasting experience, and WOW! 😍 We were seated in a beautifully decorated room that felt like an elegant, intimate rum lounge. The gorgeous bar, beautiful kitchen finishes, authentic rum barrels, numbered bottles, and brandy snifters filled with rich, dark rum created such a sophisticated atmosphere. It was absolutely stunning! But the experience wasn’t just about drinking rum. We learned the HISTORY behind it! Felix walked us through the fascinating story of the rum, including its Cuban origins and its connection to the Dominican Republic. The video presentation was a wonderful addition, bringing the history to life and making the experience even more interesting. Next came the rum tasting and pairing! We learned how to appreciate the different varieties, observe the rum in our brandy snifters, and recognize the differences in aroma and flavor. We paired the rum with an incredible assortment of accompaniments, including chocolate, cheese, honey, jelly, and salt. Each pairing brought out something different, and it was fascinating to experience how the flavors complemented one another. The samples were delicious, the presentation was impressive, and Felix made everything engaging, educational, and fun. By the time we finished, I was definitely feeling those rum samples! 😂🥃 It was an unforgettable experience from beginning to end. Felix, THANK YOU for such a wonderful experience! Your warmth, patience, knowledge, and genuine hospitality made all the difference. You didn’t simply serve us samples; you shared a story, taught us something new, and created an experience we will remember long after our vacation. And here’s another surprise: they also offer cooking classes! So don’t just pass by this location or assume it’s another ordinary shopping stop. Take the time to explore what they offer. I would encourage everyone to look into their experiences and book a visit. We would absolutely do this again! 101 Oliver Rum Tasting & Pairing gets 10+ stars from us! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 If you’re visiting the Dominican Republic and looking for something unique, educational, delicious, and memorable, PLEASE put this experience on your list! Ask for Felix, come with an open mind, and prepare to be pleasantly surprised. You won’t regret it! ❤️🇩🇴🥃🍫 And there’s MORE! 🎉 In addition to the rum tastings, chocolate and coffee experiences, and cooking classes, they also offer cigar-making classes, where you can learn how to make your own cigars and enjoy samples as part of the experience! This makes 101 Oliver a destination with something for everyone interested in learning about the culture, craftsmanship, and flavors of the Dominican Republic. 🇩🇴 Don’t make the mistake of passing this place by or assuming it’s just another tourist shopping stop. Go inside, meet Felix, and discover the experience for yourself. You may be just as pleasantly surprised as we were!

This was the highlight of our trip! Santiago was the best guide. They tell you everything about the rum and show you nice snack pairings that make the rum more flavorful. You’ll enjoy all the rum and leave tipsy or drunk. After this we’ll definitely do more rum or wine tasting it was amazing!

A amazing host and experience!

Felix was absolutely amazing! To say he knows his history when it comes to rum and Dominican culture is an understatement. The entire experience was incredible from start to finish, and it’s something I would do again in a heartbeat. Before this, I had no idea how classy and sophisticated drinking rum could truly be. Felix completely changed my perspective, and I’ve officially established a whole new, elevated way of enjoying it. And the cigars? Chef's kiss! Watching them being hand-rolled right in front of us was an over-the-top amazing experience that took the whole session to the next level. This was a phenomenal experience, and I will definitely be doing this again. Highly recommend!

Felix was great and definitely deserves that free Rum at the end of the month!

Felix was amazing. He was so informative, entertaining, engaging, and fun to interact with. Honestly one of the best experiences i’ve had tasting rum!! Thank you so much Felix :).

This was a very fun afternoon. The gentleman that guided us through the tasting was very entertaining and informative. The rums were of very high quality and the little bites of food both complimented and contrasted with the spirits. I suggest this excursion for anyone that wants a little flavor of the DR!

I went solo and the rum expert Santiago was absolutely amazing. He is very knowledgeable on rum (learnt so many new things), he is kind, patient and fun. He definitely made my experience. Each rum was very nice and the experience is informative. All the other stuff are extremely friendly too. Would 100% recommend this place.

Santiago was very knowledgeable and made the tasting very fun, I give him 5 stars. The transportation was ok, a little late getting there due to other guests, and then a bit confusing when trying to leave, giving it 4 stars. The store where they do the tasting is a big souvenir shop, a bit pricey but better than resort prices.

First time for to be in a testing and we enjoyed very much. Also for me it was my first time smoking cigar that was awesome .

Felix and the whole staff were amazing - top notch hospitality from walking us around the shops, sharing local chocolates, and carrying the souvenirs while we did the rum tasting. Felix was very knowledgeable of the rums, how they are made, what food to pair with them, and his recommendations were spot on

Very good rum tasting experience! The tour guide was extremely friendly and funny, and we had a great time. We really enjoyed the evening and felt very comfortable throughout the tour.

A lovely experience, Felix is engaging and knowledgeable about the rums and very enthusiastic during the tasting experience. It's amazing how the flavor of the rum is affected by a small bite to eat. I definitely learned a thing or two. The chosen rums are exclusive and very good. Unfortunately too expensive for me to take a bottle home, seeing as I'm not a huge drinker. These rums are definitely for special occasions. I was definitely tempted though!

If you love Rhum book now this experience will change the way you view Rhum! After this, you will have more respect and love for Rhum! Our guide was amazing the tour was very informative!

We are both not avid rum drinkers, but thought it would be a great experience in the DR. We both had a blast and the presentation (much like a wine tour) was informative and enjoyable. The rum was very high quality with some being over 25 years aged. The food pairings were excellent! Much enjoyed the cigar rolling experience at the shop and was an inexpensive place to shop vs almost ALL of the other three excursions we did while in the DR. Highly recommend. Cigars were the most reasonably priced. One stop shop for DR musts like rum, mamajuana, cigars, chocolate, etc etc. We picked the day the weather wasn't quite as favourable as this was an indoor experience. We spent about 2 1/2 total hours from start to finish. We thoroughly enjoyed this excursion!

I really enjoyed the rum experience and tasting. The explanation of the history of Oliver & Oliver felt a bit biased—almost like propaganda—but that’s what Google is for 🙂. That said, the tasting itself was a very enjoyable experience. Shopping at the store, however, was a different story. Be very careful with the prices, especially the exchange rate. We specifically asked to be charged in Dominican pesos, but the price in pesos ended up being about 25% higher. You don’t see the difference until the transaction posts to your credit card, which was very disappointing. Their listed prices seem competitive, but be cautious at checkout. If I had known, I wouldn’t have made a purchase.

What a great little trip out of resort! We were honestly surprised when we arrived at a gift shop but it was much more than that - we tasted chocolate, hot chocolate, coffee and wine then we were taken through to the rum tasting and oh my god was it worth it! My partner is a massive rum lover so this pairing experience was right up his street - our guide was so informative and friendly! We ever tried some cigars afterwards. We didn’t realise we would be able to buy so much from here so be warned - bring more pennies!

When we arrived, the group before us was still finishing their tasting, but someone was able to let us try many things from the shop in the meantime, including various types of chocolate, mamajuana, cigars, and more. Felix taught us about the rums we were tasting and was very kind and educational. Afterwards we were able to explore the shop for a bit. A great experience overall! We both really enjoyed ourselves.

Amazing experience! Kevin was our tour guide and he was very knowledgeable, gracious, and funny! Definitely recommend this trip! We spent just the right amount of time at each location and lunch was so good. Great experience! No complaints! Kevin is awesome!

Was completely skeptical at first when we pulled up. Pick up at the hotel was perfect. From the outside, the building looked underwhelming and we were taken inside and instantly shown handmade goods we could purchase. Looked like a large souvenir shop. We were told about the cocoa and the beans and tasted some, then on to the mamajuana and a sample of that. All very interesting, but the main focus is on the store. We shopped for a little bit while we waited for our rum tasting to begin. We were taken in to a large beautiful room that looked like another world compared to the store. Beautiful couches and cooking areas and rum distillery paraphernalia all around. Roody, our guide for the rum tasting was welcoming and very knowledgeable. Watched a video about the Oliver company and Roody gave us more background. Then we moved to the sofas where all the rum sampling was very neatly arranged with food pairing and water. Beautiful presentation. We tried four different high end rums (I know because we purchased some prior to arriving). Their prices were much better than at the resort we stayed at (Paradisus Palma Real The Reserve). Roody could not have been any nicer and there was a lot of shopping to be had. Local alcohol, beauty goods, jewelry, clothing, etc. I would go back again and try to get into the cooking classes. The room smelled amazing from the previous class before we got there.

My friends and I took this class (as well as a chocolate tasting/making class offered right after). Rudy was an amazing guide and explained the origins of the Oliver brand/company. After we were able to taste about 4 different "sipping" rums. Rudy taught us how to appropriately taste each rum, then paired them with snacks to show us how the flavors change. While the rums were not my favorite (I prefer rums better suited for mixing in cocktails vs sipping on their own), I really enjoyed trying them all.

Santiago was awesome. Learned a lot about the process of making this particular rum. Tasted Some rum aged for 25 years. Location is stunning.

The Rum tasting was a great experience made all the better by the great host, Rudy. His knowledge, flowing conversation and professionalism was outstanding, a credit to Oliver. We are very pleased that we chose to do the trip. The pick up to/from our hotel was on schedule and no problems encountered throughout. We would definitely recommend this trip to other tourists, also people looking for a different kind of experience that aren’t going to be tied down for a full day.

Enjoyable! Highly recommend. The little shop has a lot of options and the products were reasonably priced. Pick up and drop off was quick and easy.

The only redeeming part of this entire excursion was Rudy, our rum guide. He was phenomenal — knowledgeable, warm, and genuinely the reason this gets even a single star. If I could rate just him, it would be 5/5. Unfortunately, everything else was an absolute disaster. First red flag: 30 minutes before the free-cancellation cutoff, they emailed to say our resort was “too far” and they “require a minimum of 4 guests” to justify the free transfer. This minimum was not disclosed anywhere when I booked. We were on Saona Island with no service, so I didn’t even see the message. When we got back to the resort, they called asking why I hadn’t responded. After I explained, they offered to refund me — then asked for 20 minutes to “figure something out.” Over an hour went by with no call back, so I emailed asking for a cancellation and refund. Another 45 minutes later, they finally called saying they could do it after all. We kept the booking. The next morning we were waiting in our lobby at 9:45am as instructed. After 10–15 minutes, I got a call asking where we were because the driver “couldn’t find us.” He repeatedly asked us to confirm our resort — three times — and then had the audacity to ask “Are you SURE?” Yes. I’m sure where I’m staying. The driver had simply gone to the wrong resort. Once we arrived, the rum tasting with Rudy was fantastic. Absolutely the highlight. After that, everything nosedived. We were taken to the cigar room; the cigars were good, but no one came back. No guidance, no interaction, nothing. After about 20 minutes, we wandered out, bought a couple of packs on our own, and kept browsing. And this is where it truly went off the rails. The workers were pushy, disorganized, and constantly in the way. They kept dragging new tour groups right through wherever we were standing. The shopping selection was shockingly underwhelming for how hyped this place is. Then — after maybe 15 minutes of browsing — staff came up and told us it was time to go. We were confused because we were told to let them know when we were done so they could call our driver. We explained we weren’t finished. They insisted. They literally started blocking us from continuing to browse. We hadn’t even purchased the items we were carrying yet. We found the guide who had dropped us off (and whom we hadn’t seen since), and explained what was happening. His response? “If you’re not ready yet, your driver is leaving and won’t be back for 2 hours.” TWO. HOURS. At that point we said fine — we’ll leave. They brought us to our driver who… was sitting down eating lunch. So we stood there waiting for him to finish before he took us back. ⸻ Bottom line: Rudy from Oliver’s Rum is incredible. Truly a standout. But I cannot recommend the Taino store or the overall experience under any circumstances. Disorganized, misleading, pushy, and uncomfortable from start to finish. Save yourself the frustration and go elsewhere — or book directly with someone who actually values your time and business.

A really enjoyable tasting experience! Generous pours, premium rums, knowledgeable staff. There is a store to buy varieties of high quality local produce if you like, but absolutely no pressure tactics. Highly recommend.

We had a great rum and cigar experience led by Roddy and Felix. Rhodie started us with the history of rum and then walk us through tasting and pairings to highlight the different flavors. Felix taught us about cigars, how they were made, and what to pair them with. I highly recommend this experience.

My husband, brother, and I booked this tour last minute the day before, as we had bought a bottle of Oliver & Oliver rum the last time we were in the Dominican Republic back in 2016 and wanted to get some more. These rums are not widely available at the other shops we looked at (on the Bahia resort, or the World Shopping location), and so we were eager to pick up another bottle. While the tour and tasting do not occur at the distillery, in the back of the shop that you are dropped off at, there is a really nice area of seating and decor where you can learn about the Oliver & Oliver rum process and you are walked through the tasting of four different rums (15-30yr). There are also a few snack pairings (grapes, cheese, honey, pineapple jam, dark chocolate, and salt) that you have before the second sip of a rum. The shop itself has many Oliver & Oliver varieties to buy, and there is also a cigar area for sampling and purchasing. There are also hand painted crafts, a large section of Larimar jewelery (we bought several pieces!), a wall of different coffees (ground and whole bean), coca beans to taste with corresponding locally made chocolate to buy, a tasting of Mamajuana with bottles to buy, as well as some of your standard expected souvenirs (magnets, cups, keychains etc.) The pick up and drop off from our hotel was smooth, and I believe the whole experience from door-to-door was around 3 hours; our pick up was about 11:20am, and we were dropped off around 2:30pm. The rum tasting experience lasted around 45 mins, and starts after a brief tour of the store and a Mamajuana tasting first. You then have about 20-30 minutes after the rum tasting to browse and shop before heading back to the hotel. I highly recommend this trip, and found the quality of goods and souvenirs to be significantly better than several other places we went to shop during our trip. The prices of the Larimar jewelery were very reasonable, and in some cases 50% less expensive than what we saw on our resort, with considerably more selection.

Santiago is the guy. Super knowledgeable and great fun. I highly recommend the rum tour. You will not be disappointed. Complete experience. Eat first! 😂

Rudy was very knowledgeable and inclusive. I’m a big rum/whiskey/bourbon guy and I learned a lot. The samples and pairings were perfect. My wife even liked some of them. The shop is expansive and we were taken care of with samples and paired with cigars! A must for a spirits lover

Lots of information about rum and food pairing with rum. We tried four tiers of rum as well as mamajuana. The shop is cute and has a variety of gifts for purchase. The person guiding the tasting had loads of good energy which made the tasting even more enjoyable.

This experience started off with great communication! This was my first excursion off the resort and I didn't know where to go to leave the resort. The driver was able to find me thankfully. We arrived to the store, did some souvenir shopping, and got to learn about amazing rums and their history during the tasting. My mom and sisters had a great experience as well. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable

Santiago is a great guide. He explained the whole rum process really well. And the rum's are great to try, none of the "normal" stuff

We have made the rhum testing with Felix . Félix was an incredible guide, we have learned a lot from him. Thank you again for this experience, we love it a lot

Enjoyed the experience. Very interesting and learned about the histiry of Oliver Rum. I would recommed it.

We enjoyed the actual rum tasting part of the experience, and thought the guide did a great job. But the driver that picked us up must have had a death wish, his driving was atrocious. And we didn't enjoy being made to wait to enter the rum tasting just so we would shop the store more.

Felix (the rum master) was great and the tasting itself was fun. Took off one star because we had to wait a while for it to start, and the driver who picked us up was driving so badly I thought he wanted to get us killed.

What a great afternoon we have had with Felix and rum and chocolate making I would recommend to anyone everyone is very friendly

I did the rum tasting last year as well. Great experience and informative. Rudy spoke multiple languages to interact with guests, which I loved.

For starters this was fantastic, but at first it didn't seem that way. My wife and I were down in DR for our 10th anniversary. We saw this rum tasting excursion and thought it would be a perfect addition to our trip. We've done several like it in other countries. After getting picked up at our hotel, we made our way to the location. Pulling up, it didn't look like it would be much. We nearly thought the driver was stopping to pickup someone else perhaps. He wasn't. A man welcomed us in to what looked like a a gift shop. My wife and I looked a eash other concerned. This didn't look like any distillery, and we were't quite sure what was going on. They took us to the back area to wait until an earlier group had finished. When we finally got into the space, the magic happened. It was a cosy area set up for all their tasting and cooking events. Our host was informative, friendly and engaging. We loved learning about the history of rum and how it came to be in the DR. Then the delicious part... the tasting. We tried several different varieties along with little bites that help accentuate the flavors of the rum. It was a fantastic experience, and the rum was AMAZING. It was the best rum I've ever had. We were only saddened because we didn't check a bag on this trip, so we couldn't take any with us! We had misconceptions walking in, but walked out feeling great. We definitely would do this again or try one of their cooking or chocolate classes, too. Cheers to Oliver and this exceptional rum!

This was such a beautiful experience! Felix was an amazing guide throughout the experience and we got to try various different rums that were top notch quality. We also got to souvenir shop as well since there’s an area for that too. Would definitely recommend, 100% worth the money!

Very good experience our tour guide Felix was very knowledgeable and fun to be around. I enjoyed the experience with my friends.

This was a great experience. Even though I don't drink rum, learning about it and having a little taste was great. Santiago was very knowledgeable, personable, and made this experience wonderful

Interesting experience. The 4 of us were the only pick up and we arrived at a shop. After a quick tour of the shop we were escorted a nice lounge. Freddy our guide had a super personality and was very knowledgeable. Rum was great. Limited edition that are non export of a great souvenir for a lasting memory till next year.

Had a great time at Oliver & Oliver rum tasting and chocolate class. Learned about how rum is made in the Dominican and the history of chocolate. The rum tasting was fantastic, a new experience for seasoned bourbon babies! The chocolate class was so much fun. A lot of education abd hands-on participation. Highly recommend for a unique experience and some of the best rum ever made.