The kookiest cocktails in the Caribbean

By USA TODAY TRAVEL EXPERIENCE CARIBBEAN

In an enclave where Julio Iglesias and the late Oscar de la Renta have vacation homes, bartenders have been stirring the ‘Happy Turtle’ since the elegant small hotel opened its doors a decade ago. (Photo by: Puntacana Resort & Club)

Once upon a time in cocktail history, ‘Sex on the Beach’ was about as clever a name as you’d find on a bar menu. Upping the ante, bartenders today are putting as much artistic energy into naming a cocktail as they do in creating one adding a whole new repertoire of catchy cocktail names guaranteed to get the conversation started.  Inspired by local history in Grenada, stately palm trees in Nevis and a pair of lovebirds in Aruba, get on board our cocktail caravan and take a sip of the 10 best with names you'll never forget. Are we having rum yet?

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, The AAATortuga Bay the AAA Five Diamond Awarded at Puntacana Resort & Club, is a colorful stand-out with 30 canary yellow villas fronting the sea. In an enclave where Julio Iglesias and the late Oscar de la Renta have vacation homes, bartenders have been stirring the ‘Happy Turtle’ since the elegant small hotel opened its doors a decade ago. As the Spanish word Tortuga means turtle in English and guests at the swishy boutique are always happy, ‘Happy Turtle' was a natural addition to the bar menu. At USD$10.00, this salute to the turtles who call Punta Cana home is bright orange with juicy passion fruit with the black seeds at the bottom for a pretty effect, orchard-fresh mangos and white Dominican rum. Topped with ice, it is a sunny treat in a highball glass.