🍷 No Wine, But a National Spirit
Panama produces no wine of note — the isthmus's tropical humidity and heavy rainfall are the wrong climate for viticulture, and virtually all wine on Panamanian tables is imported, mostly from Chile and Argentina, reflecting the country's trade ties across Latin America (fittingly, Panama's own stock exchange merged with Chile's and Peru's in 2025).
🥃 Seco Herrerano
Panama's actual national drink is a sugarcane-distilled spirit from Herrera province — clear, dry, and traditionally mixed with cold milk (seco con leche) rather than sipped neat, which surprises visitors expecting a rum-like profile. It is inexpensive, everywhere, and a genuine source of local pride; asking for it "con leche" at a local bar is the standard order.
Panama's rum scene has also grown a real following internationally — Ron Abuelo, aged in the highlands near Boquete, has picked up serious awards and is worth seeking out specifically, a rare case of a Central American rum with critical reputation beyond the region.
