Coquito recipes: Can anyone unravel the secret recipe?

The best coquito recipes are often shrouded in secrecy.

For many people, the best coquito recipes cannot be found in a cocktail recipe book. The Puerto Rican holiday traditional beverage is often a secret recipe handed down by word of mouth. When a family perfects that delicious sip, it is a highly guarded secret recipe that no one wants to share.

While every coquito recipe is different, a few key ingredients tend to be in every cocktail. Basically, a coquito consists of coconut milk, coconut cream, condescend milk, evaporated milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and rum. The proportions of each ingredient vary.

Although some people refer to coquito as a Puerto Rican version of eggnog, it is quite different. Even calling this beverage a tropical eggnog is a misnomer. The flavor is all its own.

Recently, Bacardi added a pre-made version of coquito as part of its holiday limited time offerings. This option is a great beverage to discover the flavors and try it for the first time. After opening a bottle, it can encourage people to mix up their own homemade recipe (or even add a little customization to the pre-made Bacardi option.

If you prefer to try your hand at making a coquito from scratch, Discover Puerto Rico shared an easy recipe to make at home. Since Puerto Rico celebrates the holiday season until mid-January with the San Sebastián Street Festival, coquito doesn’t have to disappear when Santa heads back to the North Pole.

Here’s how to make a version of coquito as shared by Discover Puerto Rico.

Coquito Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 16 oz Bacardi Oro (Gold)
• 2 bottles Reàl Coconut Cream
• 1 can Condensed Milk
• 2 cans Evaporated Milk
• 2oz Vanilla Extract
• 1 tbsp Cinnamon Powder
• Garnish: Cinnamon Stick

Instructions:

• Mix all ingredients in a blender (except for the cinnamon sticks).
• Chill for a few hours and serve cold, no ice.
• Sprinkle with ground cinnamon and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

While this coquito recipe is a traditional option, Coquito NYC teamed up with the iconic Caribe Hilton (the location that created the original Pina Colada) to create a modern twist on the traditional holiday beverage. These kits were available online.

The coquito kits show how that traditional Puerto Rican beverage has become an integral part of many holiday celebrations. Whether it is a classic recipe or a modern rift, the coquito is a holiday beverage that deserves another sip this year.

What are your favorite coquito recipes? Are you sipping a coquito this holiday season?