Lift your spirits with a coquito, the traditional Puerto Rican Christmas cocktail

What makes a great Christmas cocktail? Is it the use of saccharine-sweet syrups to give it a green and red appearance? Is it a heavy pour of creme de menthe to make everything taste like a candy cane? Or maybe it’s a warm, spiced drink sipped slowly alongside a toasty fireplace.

Cultures the world over have traditions associated with Christmas, and one that’s gained popularity in the United States is Puerto Rico’s coquito. It’s a creamy, coconut-based cocktail made with rum, coconut milk, cream of coconut and fresh spices. While it’s called Puerto Rican eggnog, there isn’t any egg included in most recipes.

This recipe for coquito comes from Casa Sensei, a Japanese-Latin fusion restaurant in Fort Lauderdale. The entirety of the recipe comes together in a cocktail shaker and is poured into coupe glasses or snifters. The restaurant’s recipe calls for a touch of vanilla vodka alongside spiced rum, as well as Baileys Irish Cream. Top the drink with fresh cinnamon and a touch of fresh nutmeg for a smooth, delicious holiday cocktail.

This story was originally published December 16, 2022 at 2:53 PM.