Your New Favorite Christmas Drink!
Let's talk Coquito! If you aren't familiar with it, Coquito is a popular Puerto Rican alcoholic drink. This coconut drink is a staple of the holiday season in Puerto Rico and has gained popularity worldwide. You will often hear it referred to as Puerto Rican egg nog. While the consistency is similar, they are very different drinks. Coconut is the prominent flavor in Coquito. The name itself even means "little coconut" in Spanish.
Coquito is a beverage mainly made at home. You will find secret family recipes written on tattered old recipe cards handed down by relatives. The common ingredients are coconut cream, evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and Puerto Rican rum. Families have their own variations that may include other spices like nutmeg and cloves or more coconut or rum. Sometimes, you will also see chocolate or different flavors added. It is typically served chilled and garnished with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Another favorite in our house is putting a Coquito splash in our morning coffee (shhhhhh!).
I use a fairly standard recipe. You can find everything you need at your local supermarket. Any silver rum will work, but I prefer to honor the recipe with something made in Puerto Rico. Don Q is a famous Puerto Rican brand and is easy to find.
Coquito
1 - 12 oz Can Evaporated Milk
1 - 14 oz Can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 - 15 oz Cream of Coconut
¼ tsp Cinnamon
⅛ tsp Freshly Grated Nutmeg (can use ground)
1 tsp Vanilla
1 ½ cups Puerto Rican Silver Rum
Put everything into a large swing-top glass bottle and shake vigorously. It stores well in the refrigerator for a couple of months. I like to grate more fresh nutmeg over the top when serving it. You just can't beat the smell of freshly grated nutmeg. And let's be honest, you look really bougie grating your own nutmeg over the drink.
I usually make it the first of December. Then, bottle immediately and put it in the fridge. If I make a large batch, I will blend it with an immersion blender and bottle it into smaller 16-ounce gift bottles. That way, I have it ready for last-minute gifting or to take to parties as a hostess gift (who needs another bottle of wine?) This season, why not try making your own? You might just discover your new Holiday tradition.
