While family up North sips mulled wine and eggnog, Miamians enjoy coquito, the traditional Puerto Rican drink made with coconut cream, spices, sweetened condensed milk, and plenty of rum. Though many Miamians make their own from recipes handed down for generations, you can also find coquito at some of the city's best bars.
There are also coquito-inspired beers and treats, so gather your friends and enjoy the holidays with one of these treats.
Beat Culture Brewing. Beat Culture's coquito-inspired beer, Coco-Nug, is a rum-barrel0aged Imperial Stout with vanilla, coconut, nutmeg, and cinnamon ($5 for a five-ounce pour, $10 for an 8-ounce). 7250 NW 11th St., Miami; beatculture.com.
Burlock Coast. The restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale pours a coquito cocktail for $14, so you can enjoy your beverage with a gorgeous waterfront view. 1 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; burlockcoast.com.
Casa Sensei. The pan-Asian and Latin American restaurant is paying tribute to its Hispanic roots with the famed Puerto Rican holiday cocktail, crafted with eggnog and white rum and topped with a cinnamon stick ($12). 1200 E. Las Olas Blvd., #101, Fort Lauderdale; casasensei.com.
El Santo Taqueria. El Santo Taqueria will serve traditional coquito and churros with a choice of Nutella, chocolate, or dulce de leche dipping sauce December 13 through Christmas Day. The perfectly paired combo costs $8. 1620 SW Eighth St., Miami; 786-360-6019; elsantomiami.com.
Inspired by the traditional Puerto Rican holiday beverage, Coqui-To is an imperial milk stout.
Photo by Paula Echevarria
Sweet Caroline Karaoke Bar. Enjoy the cocktail Santa's Cookies and Milk Coquito with either rum or Old Forester whiskey. The drink is served in a glass rimmed with Christmas sprinkles and paired with Christmas cookies ($12). 1111 SW First Ave., Miami; 786-740-2672; sweetcarolinebar.com.
Toro Toro. The Pequeño Coco Loco is the downtown restaurant Toro Toro's tequila-fueled take on the classic coquito. The cocktail is made with Casamigos Blanco and house-made coquito mix ($15). 100 Chopin Plaza, Miami; 305-372-4710; torotoromiami.com.
Whisk Gourmet Food & Catering. Whisk is serving a coquito made from a recipe handed down from the owner's friend's mother, lovingly named "Abu" by her gandchildren. Abu's recipe is made with Coconut Cartel rum ($7). 7382 SW 56th Ave., South Miami; 786-268-8350; whiskgourmet.com.
Wynwood Brewing. An homage to the holidays in Puerto Rico, Coqui-to is a limited-release brew barrel-aged in Puerto Rican rum barrels, giving it a deep, sweet flavor rich in spices, vanilla, and coconut. Enjoy a 13-ounce glass in the taproom, and grab a few limited-edition cans as gifts. 565 NW 24th St., Miami; 305-982-8732; wynwoodbrewing.com.
