3 Rum Cocktails Perfect for Winter

Everybody loves a winter cocktail but depending on what side of the country you’re in, drinking pleasures might be opposites.

On the West Coast, you may have to trek for hours up to the mountains to find some semblance of a white winter wonderland.

SoCal and NorCal, for example, tend to have sun-filed winters so you will rarely be in the mood for a hot toddy of some sort. Instead, a chilled cocktail is a year-round pleasure. Below are chilled concoctions to enjoy this season.

From L.A. bartenders Carlos Giron and Brian Klemm comes the Hollywood Colada, a wonderful wintry take on the classic Piña Colada. A fan of spices such as cinnamon, clove, star anise and nutmeg, Giron also likes vanilla, which he believes pairs well with rum and coconut.

“I believe the Hollywood Colada can make you feel like you are on vacation with a tiki shirt on but at the same time the spices and creaminess will make feel like you want to wear your favorite cozy sweater, play some music and enjoy time with your family and loved ones,” says Giron.

Photo by Ryan Tanaka

Rum

Hollywood Colada

Ingredients

• 1/2 oz Coconut Cream
• 1 oz Pineapple Juice
• 1/2 oz Falernum
• 2 oz SelvaRey White Rum

Preparation

1. Shake all ingredients and strain into a Hurricane glass.
2. Garnish with a mint bouquet, shaved coconut, and grated nutmeg.

Fans of winter libations with an added pick me up will love cold coffee cocktails such as the Don Francisco’s Havana Martini.

“This season is a time to savor our favorite flavors and embrace the warmth of loved ones,” says Lisette Gaviña Lopez, fourth generation coffee roaster at Gaviña Coffee Company. “And what better way to elevate the celebration than with a festive coffee beverage that ignites your spirit with an extra jolt of joy.”

Photo by Ryan Tanaka

Rum

Don Francisco’s Havana Martini

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz Dark Rum
• 1 oz Coconut Syrup
• ¾ oz Heavy Cream
• 2 oz Don Francisco’s Espresso

Preparation

1. Combine ingredients into shaker.
2. Shake over ice and strain into a chilled martini glass.

This year, forget about spiked eggnog and instead opt for Puerto Rico’s favorite winter cocktail—the Coquito. While Coquito means “little coconut” this big, bold beverage has become a seasonal classic over the past few years.

Recipes vary as some are more elaborate and call for cooking certain items while others read akin to a cocktail recipe—easy to make and terrific to taste.

Photo by Ryan Tanaka

Rum

Coquito

Ingredients

• 1 cup Don Q Cristal
• 14 oz Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 12 oz Evaporated Milk
• 8.5 oz Cream of Coconut
• 1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
• 1 Tablespoon Ground Cinnamon
• ¼ oz Ground Nutmeg

Preparation

1. Mix all ingredients in a blender at high speed.
2. Refrigerate for at least two hours before serving.
3. Shake well and serve cold in small glasses.
4. Sprinkle with ground cinnamon.