Home to the longest holiday season in the world
lasting an epic 45 days, there’s nowhere that celebrates the festive season
quite like Puerto Rico. Festivities begin straight after Thanksgiving in
November, stretching through December and culminating in mid-January. Whilst the holidays will look a little
different this year, those dreaming of the azure shores, tropical flavours and
breathtaking landscapes of Puerto Rico can get a taste of the island by recreating
some of the island’s most famous holiday season tipples in the comfort of their
own kitchens.
Here are five festive season cocktail recipes from
Puerto Rico to try at home, from Coquito, a traditional eggnog-style holiday
drink to the iconic Piña Colada which was invented in Puerto Rico, with some
expert recipe tips from Puerto Rico’s top bars, venues and local businesses...
Coquito
An essential part of a Puerto Rican Christmas,
Coquito is the island’s take on eggnog, made with condensed milk, coconut milk,
white rum and a choice of spices. Thick, creamy, indulgent and unmistakably
tropical tasting, this traditional island drink holds a great deal of local
heritage. Most families have their own variations of the recipe that are passed
down through generations, and Bacardí even makes a limited-edition Christmas
bottle of Coquito at its Puerto Rico distillery.
Those at home this year can make their own Coquito by
blending 350ml dark spiced rum with a 400ml can of condensed milk, 400ml
coconut cream, a 400ml can of coconut milk and 100ml evaporated milk. By adding
two cinnamon sticks and a dash of nutmeg and vanilla extract, the Coquito comes
to life in the sweetest, creamiest way.
Piña Colada
A Piña Colada delivers an iconic taste of Puerto Rico
and is a refreshing tipple enjoyed year-round on the island, where bartenders
and mixologists each put their own personal twist on the much-loved drink.
Stories on the origins of the Piña Colada fill Puerto Rico, with some islanders
believing the drink dates back to the 1800s, crediting the creation of the
cocktail to Puerto Rican pirate Roberto Cofresí who allegedly served Piña
Coladas to his crew to boost morale.
Jungle Bird, a laidback bar in
Santurce, San Juan, serves a delicious Piña Colada that can be recreated at
home. Jungle Bird’s recipe calls for 60ml Don Q Gold Rum, 50ml coconut cream,
60ml pineapple juice, a dash of lime juice and a dash of Angostura bitters.
Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake for 30 seconds, before
training into a wine glass. Jungle Bird recommends adding a maraschino cherry
and a pineapple wedge for the full Puerto Rico experience.
Frozen Boozy Coconut-Limeade
The Spoon
Experience, the culinary experts specialising in
foodie tours of Puerto Rico, favour a Frozen Boozy Coconut-Limeade for a taste
of the island. In a recipe that allows the flavour of Puerto Rican light rum to
sing, The Spoon Experience crafts an irresistibly tropical twist on lemonade.
The Spoon Experience recommends adding ½ cup of lime
juice, a cup of coconut cream, ½ cup of light rum and 2 ½ cups of ice to a
blender. Once blended, add lime zest and a mint leaf and voila!
Mojito
A mojito is a one-way taste ticket to the Caribbean,
and the mojito found at La
Factoría is part of the reason why this Old San
Juan bar has secured its place on the World’s 50 Best Bars list. Using Bacardí
Superior Rum - a favourite in Puerto Rico - La Factoría’s recipe calls for
specific measurements and a few secret ingredients to deliver the most
authentic Caribbean flavour.
Follow in the footsteps of La Factoría’s
award-winning mixologists by muddling 10 mint leaves in a highball glass with
60ml Bacardi Superior. Add 25ml lime juice, 25ml simple syrup and a dash of
Angostura bitters. Finally, add crushed ice and a splash of club soda. Gently
run a lime wedge along the rim of the glass before adding to the drink.
Strawberry Champagne
For a truly tropical twist on champagne
Puerto-Rico-style, this champagne cocktail is the perfect choice. A drink so
decadent that Bruno Mars sang about it in his track ‘That’s What I Like’, a
Strawberry Champagne is best enjoyed with a high quality Puerto Rican rum like
Bacardí Carta Blanca.
Rums of Puerto
Rico, a venue in Old San Juan specialising in
the island’s favourite spirit, uses the following recipe; muddle 50ml Bacardí
Carta Blanca with a sliced strawberry, a generous squeeze of lime and 15ml
simple syrup in the bottom of a glass. Top with champagne and a fresh
strawberry to serve.
For more information on visiting Puerto Rico go to DiscoverPuertoRico.com or follow
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