Refreshing yet festive, the Nui Nui Cocktail tastes like Christmas in paradise! This spiced, boozy delight is perfect for any holiday celebration.
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About this Nui Nui Cocktail recipe
Sure, there’s something idyllic about a white Christmas, but to me? Christmas on the beach doesn’t sound too shabby! My favorite Christmas song is “Mele Kalikimaka,” and it is the perfect soundtrack for this drink!
The Nui Nui cocktail is layered with citrus and spices, and punchy with three kinds of booze. I love exploring pop-up Christmas bars around the city or when I travel this time of year, and a Tiki pop-up was where I first tried a version of this drink.
This tropical treat has been around since it was created in the 1930s by Don the Beachcomber. Although he was notoriously secretive about this recipe, the recipe has become a tiki staple. Tiki expert Jeff “Beachbum” Berry unlocked the recipe behind Don’s classic Tiki, and I’m sharing my variation here with a homemade cinnamon vanilla bean syrup.
This Tiki drink works well for Christmas because it’s spiced with allspice, cinnamon and vanilla alongside the robust flavors of two kinds of rum plus zesty lime and orange. Aromatic bitters add depth and intrigue, too. But the real star of this show is a tiny splash of St. Elizabeth’s Allspice Dram, a spiced liqueur that is worth having on your bar cart *.
More rum recipes: Apple Cider Rum Punch • Rum Hot Toddy • Christmas Mojito
Why you’ll love this recipe
- It’s a tropical twist still fitting for holiday celebrations. Citrus and spice are a winning combination!
- Simple, yet delicious. This drink comes together in a snap.
- Customize it to your tastes. With easy swaps and different ratios you can make this drink your own.
Tools & glassware
Despite a long list of ingredients, this sipper comes together in a snap. You’ll want to have the tools to create your own cinnamon dolce syrup — the combo of cinnamon and vanilla is unbeatable — like a sauce pan and spoon.
Outside of that, you’ll want a jigger and cocktail shaker *. When it comes to glasses, you can use whatever you have on hand. I love to use tiki glasses for added flair!
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Ingredients
👇 For full measurements and step-by-step instructions, scroll down to the printable recipe card. It’s all there waiting for you!
For the cinnamon dolce syrup, you’ll need just four ingredients. Sugar and water are the base of most simple syrup recipes. Plain white granulated sugar is all you need to sweeten your cinnamon dolce syrup. Brown sugar will work too, but it will change the flavor a bit. For the best flavor, use filtered or purified water instead of tap water.
To flavor it, a vanilla bean * is my favorite way to add strong vanilla flavor. You can also use a teaspoon pure vanilla extract * or vanilla paste. Use cinnamon quills *, or cinnamon sticks, in this homemade syrup instead of ground cinnamon. Ground spices will leave some grit in the bottom of your drink, which is less ideal.
The cocktail starts with three types of alcohol:
- Aged rum: Barrel aging gives this rum deeper color and complex flavors.
- Demerara rum: This complex spirit lends notes of caramel, smoke and earthiness to the drink.
- St. Elizabeth’s Allspice Dram: This allspice liqueur is super strong on its own so you only need a lil bit. If you don’t have it, you could skip it but it is one of my favorite unique cocktail ingredients
And you’ll also need orange juice and lime juice. Fresh is best! Your citrus will have more flavor if you use fresh rather than concentrate. A few drops of Angostura bitters give it a deeper flavor and color, too.
And it’s not a tiki drink without an over-the-top garnish! Save a few cinnamon sticks if you can, as they add more of their cozy aroma as you sip, but if you don’t have one on hand that’s okay. A dehydrated lime round complements the citrus in the drink, and a few fresh or frozen cranberries dots the top, adding a spot of holiday color.
Substitutions & variations
The great thing about mixing cocktails at home is that you can adapt the recipe to make it your own.
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- Aged rum can be replaced with gold rum or white rum if you prefer it based on the flavor or it’s what you have on your bar cart.
- Dark rum works in place of demerara rum.
- Use non-alcoholic rum and a little extra cinnamon vanilla syrup to create a non-alcoholic version of the Nui Nui. Or mix a citrus ginger beer mocktail for those who prefer to skip the booze.
Instructions
Get ready to take a tropical getaway for the holidays! Here’s how you shake up a Nui Nui cocktail:
Once you’ve made your cinnamon dolce syrup and allowed it to cool, your drink will come together quickly.
First, add ice in your cocktail shaker *. Then measure and add your dark rum, Demerara rum and allspice dram.
Next, add the orange juice, lime juice and cooled cinnamon vanilla syrup.
Finally, add a dash of Angostura bitters *. Shake well to ensure everything is well combined and chilled. Then, strain into your preferred glassware over crushed ice. Garnish and enjoy!
Tips & tricks
- Play with the types of rum you use to fit your personal preferences.
- Garnishes can make this drink suited for any occasion! Dress it up or down depending on when you’re serving it.
- Make it for a crowd by multiplying the recipe.
Food pairings
This citrus sipper pairs well with almost anything! Sausage balls are a holiday favorite that offer a salty compliment to the citrus in this drink — marinated cheese does the same, but with no cook time!
Chai sugar cookies are a spicy sweet treat that are cozy and delicious. Christmas sugar cookie bars are an easy alternative to rolling and frosting individual cookies, saving you time and effort for a big group!
FAQ
This boozy beverage uses two different kinds of rum, and while each brings its own contributions to the final flavor you can certainly switch things up depending on your personal preferences. Check out the substitutions section for my recommendations!
When it comes to entertaining, multiply this recipe then chill until you’re ready to serve. You’ll save yourself from getting stuck behind the bar and leave more time to mingle!
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Nui Nui Cocktail
ingredients
Cinnamon Vanilla Syrup
- 1 vanilla bean * or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract * see note
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
Nui Nui Cocktail
- 1½ ounces aged rum
- ½ ounce demerara rum
- 1 teaspoon St. Elizabeth’s Allspice Dram
- ½ ounce orange juice
- ½ ounce lime juice
- ½ ounce cinnamon vanilla syrup
- 1 dash Angostura bitters
- crushed ice
- 1 whole cinnamon stick for garnish
- 1 slice dehydrated lime or fresh lime, for garnish
- 3 cranberries for garnish
instructions
Cinnamon Vanilla Syrup
- Cut the vanilla bean in half lengthwise. Scrape out the seeds (do not discard).
- Add the cinnamon sticks, vanilla bean pod halves and the seeds to a medium pot of water.
- Bring to a boil. After 5 minutes, lower heat.
- Add sugar and stir until dissolved. Remove the pods and cinnamon sticks. (You may reserve them for bottling, if desired). Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh strainer * * to filter out clumps of vanilla seeds.
- Store in a food-safe, airtight container such as a mason jar or bottle in the fridge for up to 1 month. If the syrup begins to look cloudy, it’s time to toss it.
Nui Nui Cocktail
- In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add dark rum, demerara rum, allspice dram, orange juice, lime juice, cinnamon-vanilla syrup, and Angostura bitters *. Shake well.
- Fill a rocks glass * with crushed ice and strain the cocktail over top.
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick, lime slice and fresh cranberries.
notes
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