It’s the New Year! Yup, we survived 2015 and to celebrate such an achievement we are toasting to the closing of a spectacular chapter and the beginning of a new one on La Isla Bonita. In classic San Pedro style, we will not be toasting with champagne but rather with a few iconic cocktails from some of our island’s fabulous bars. From creamy and sweet, to sweet and sour, we’ve compiled a list that will surely please any palate.

The talented Orville!

The talented Orville!

Our first stop in the must-do 2016 booze tour is the Truck Stop. The talented bartender at the newly inaugurated shipping container food park and beer garden, Orville, fixed us up one of their best sellers: the VIP.

Don't underestimate this one: it has a kick to it

Don’t underestimate this one: it has a kick to it

This drink consisted of vodka infused pineapple juice and fresh soursop juice. Doesn’t that just sound heavenly?

Coco Loco time!

Coco Loco time!

Properly initiated, we made our way to another new installation at North Ambergris Caye: The Dive Bar! There, bartender Tua serves us up their house Coco Loco. This one is a classic drink across the island, but the different preparation methods make each one unique.

Made with fresh, off the tree coconuts!

Made with fresh, off the tree coconuts!

Tua uses gin, coconut water, mint, lime juice plus a secret ingredient, all shaken, not stirred, to make an exceptionally refreshing drink. Cheers!

And the view from Coco Loco's is to die for!

And the view from Coco Loco’s is to die for!

Time for the third drink! We headed on over to Coco Locos Beach Bar, just north of Sir Barry Bowen Bridge to sample bartender Sarika’s Mango Tango. A combination of white rum, coconut rum, mango juice and cranberry juice, the Mango Tango definitely packs a kick.

Refreshingly tasty!

Refreshingly tasty!

Needless to say the combination of three distinct cocktails had us feeling pretty happy!

My partner in crime, Monz and Rob

My partner in crime, Monz and Rob

With our journey up north complete, we head down south to Crazy Canucks Beach Bar. There owner Rob and bartender Ronny await us with their specialty drink, Bacalar Chica, all ready for sampling. This drink is for those ginger lovers!

Bartending with a smile...

Bartending with a smile…

A combination of either white rum or vodka, a secret ginger syrup and a splash of ginger ale makes for one tasty cocktail! This one is for the Ginger fansOur palates appreciate this refreshing drink, and suddenly, we were rejuvenated, ready to taste test some more, you know, for you, our loyal readers!

Ivan showing off!

Ivan showing off!

Things really got turned up at Palapa Bar. Now relocated to the Wet Willy’s Dock, and still featuring our favorite bartenders, Ivan, Abner and Dennis, the Palapa makes us want to have two drinks instead of one! The skillful Ivan prepares for us two of Palapa’s specialties, the Kiwi Cooler and the Banango.

Happy girls...

Happy girls…

While the Kiwi Cooler is more of a light, refreshing cocktail, the Banango is a creamy decadent treat. But both are prefect to sip while admiring San Pedro’s beautiful coastline!

Now that's a pretty drink!

Now that’s a pretty drink!

Next up, we stumble over to Caprice Bar and Grill for some Dragon Fruit Margaritas. Oh! How I love this pretty purple drink, and the tequila in it! Prepared by Edwin, the Dragon Fruit Margarita is a Caprice specialty and I highly recommend everyone try it!

You need to try one

You need to try one

Our last stop is over at the Nook Restaurant and Cocktail Bartique located on the beach! We meet up with Nook’s owner, Erin who tells us how their specialty drink came to be. We may have gotten the story, but by then, the ingredients list became fuzzy; we have to say though, that Breaking Amish is one spectacular cocktail. And the story behind it is even more so!

And lost but not least: the Nook!

And lost but not least: the Nook!

Don’t these drinks sound like they deserve a try? I don’t know about you, but I will be sampling many of these drinks throughout 2016 – especially since according to my horoscope, 2016 will be my most sociable year yet!

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About the Author: Janelle Cowo

The youngest member of the My Beautiful Belize family, Janelle loves traveling and experiencing new cultures both within and across the border of Belize. She particularly enjoys history and is an avid Science Fiction, Fantasy and Romance reader. What she lacks in stature, Janelle has (and even surpasses) in spirit for adventure. She is willing to try pretty much anything, from daring jumps to new eats. Janelle lives her life according to Mae West quote “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”

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