Coquito Is The Puerto Rican Holiday Cocktail You Didn't Know You Needed

Part of the reason holiday cocktails are so satisfying is because they check so many boxes: they're often sweet, they're full of warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, they can be creamy, and of course, contain alcohol, if getting a buzz on is your thing. Coquito is one of those drinks that has it all and more. It takes everything you love about an eggnog or a hot buttered rum, and adds a heavy kick of coconut. Yes: tropical and holiday beverages can — and do — go hand in hand. Coquito is a popular holiday and New Years' drink in Puerto Rico, and trust us, it will be equally as popular in your household from the moment you take a sip.

According to Culture Trip, "coquito" means "little coconut," which — does it get any cuter than that? It's often thought of as a coconut eggnog equivalent, but unlike eggnog, it's mostly homemade, then bottled and given as a gift to family and friends. There's even a contest that began in New York called the "Coquito Masters," in which contestants concoct their best version of coquito to compete for a title.

The nice thing about coquito is that it resembles eggnog, but without all the fuss goes into serving a drink made with raw eggs. The essential ingredients are coconut cream, coconut milk, sweetened condensed milk, and rum (via Culture Trip). Coconut cream is much thicker and richer than coconut milk — the difference is in their water content, but a combo of the two is best for coquito (via the Kitchn). Besides that, it's largely up to the mixologist, but popular add-ins include vanilla or coconut extract, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg (via The Spruce Eats). Yum.

To make a proper coquito, you'll need a blender. Whir together all the ingredients until smooth, then cover the mixture and let it sit for at least an hour in the refrigerator, or even overnight. Because the drink tastes best very cold, this step is key (via The Spruce Eats). Not only does coquito taste lighter than eggnog (read: coconut over heady cream), but it also lasts longer, because it contains neither raw egg nor dairy cream (via The Spruce Eats). You can garnish it with cinnamon sticks or ground cinnamon for an extra pretty presentation, and enjoy.