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Cocktail History
The White Christmas Colada is a Christmas cocktail that was created by Emma Stokes and was first published in her book Have Yourself a Merry Little Cocktail: 80 Cheerful Tipples to Warm Up Winter. It’s a holiday-inspired variation of the Piña Colada that adds the sweet flavors of white chocolate and vanilla to the classic’s usual blend of rum, coconut, and citrus.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
White Rum: This is the base spirit. It’s a type of rum made with molasses or sugar cane juice and a neutral spirit that is filtered and bottled right away without the aging process. We used BACARDÍ Superior White Rum because it has a soft and sweet taste that pairs well with other ingredients without overpowering them. For a mocktail version of this drink, use Lyre’s White Cane Spirit in place of the rum.
Coconut Milk: This is a thin, milky liquid made extracted from the pulp of coconuts. We used So Delicious Dairy Free Coconut Milk because it has a smooth texture and light taste.
Coconut Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with coconut flakes, sugar, milk, and a neutral grain spirit. We went with Dorda Coconut Liqueur its sweet and bright flavor and silky texture. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Escape Liqueurs Non-Alcoholic Caribbean Coconut Liqueur in place of the other coconut liqueur.
White Crème De Cacao: This is a type of spirit made with white chocolate, vanilla, sugar, and alcohol. We used DeKuyper White Crème De Cacao because it has a delightful dark cocoa flavor and is affordable. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Monin Non-Alcoholic White Chocolate Syrup in place of the liqueur.
Lime Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lime. We used freshly squeezed lime juice.
Vanilla Extract: This is a sweetener that adds vanilla flavor. We used Simply Organic Pure Vanilla Extract.
Cocoa Powder: This is one of the garnishes. We used Ghirardelli’s Cocoa Powder.
Cranberries: These are the other garnish.
Tasting Notes
The White Christmas Colada starts with slight cocoa aromas and has a taste that’s a bit drier than expected, featuring a bit of coconut and vanilla sweetness, slight rum funk, and a hint of chocolate and coconut which linger on the finish.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: We both shared a similar opinion of this cocktail: that the coconut and chocolate are absolutely made for each other and create a deliciously Christmas-dessert like combination. That said, much like the original Piña Colada, neither of us found it to be the kind of unique and complex concoction that would keep us coming back for more. If you’re a fan of the classic, you’re likely to enjoy this holiday version too though.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐
“Like most Coladas, I didn’t hate this one, but I didn’t exactly love it either. The cocktail was much drier than I expected before taking a sip because the coconut milk brings some flavor but very little sugar; in fact, most of the sugar in the whole thing is the coconut liqueur, crème de cacao, and tiny hint of vanilla which amounts to very little overall. I do appreciate this for what it is: a crisp, dry, wintery, slightly chocolatey vehicle for rum delivery, but I wouldn’t say I’d crave it again as-is.”—
Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐
“I don’t really care for the classic Piña Colada. I find the recipe to be a bit lackluster, and although I was excited to try this Christmas version, I’m bummed to report similar results after tasting it. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this cocktail at all. It just tastes like coconut slightly sweetened by chocolate and vanilla, and that’s about all there is to it. I’m also not big on tiki this time of year; I reach for hot cocoa concoctions or dessert drinks when there’s a fresh blanket of snow on the ground, not a refreshing blended drink. If you like a good Colada, you will absolutely like this one too. It just wasn’t a showstopper for me, and that’s why I gave it three stars.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from Have Yourself a Merry Little Cocktail: 80 Cheerful Tipples to Warm Up Winter by Emma Stokes.
Add rum, coconut milk, coconut liqueur, white crème de cacao, lime juice, vanilla extract, and ice to a blender.
Blend until desired texture.
Pour into a hurricane glass.
Garnish with cocoa powder and cranberries.
Ingredients
Directions
Add rum, coconut milk, coconut liqueur, white crème de cacao, lime juice, vanilla extract, and ice to a blender.
Blend until desired texture.
Pour into a hurricane glass.
Garnish with cocoa powder and cranberries.
Make It a Mocktail: Use Lyre’s White Cane Spirit in place of the rum, Escape Liqueurs Non-Alcoholic Caribbean Coconut Liqueur in place of the other coconut liqueur, and Monin Non-Alcoholic White Chocolate Syrup in place of the white crème de cacao liqueur to try a booze-free version of this drink.
Tools & Glassware We Recommend
More Christmas Cocktails
If you like this Christmas cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:
Sugar Cookie Cocktail: A vanilla vodka cocktail made with amaretto, Irish cream liqueur, heavy cream, simple syrup, and sprinkles
Kohler Mint Cocoa: A chocolate mint brandy cocktail made with milk, white peppermint schnapps, dark crème de cacao, cocoa powder, whipped cream, and grated chocolate
Holiday Gin Mule: A blackcurrant gin cocktail made with apple cinnamon syrup, lime juice, ginger beer, rosemary, and cranberries
Cranberry Cobbler: A sherry cocktail made with cranberry syrup, orange slices, an orange wedge, mint, and cranberries
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