Malibu liqueur: what it is, strength and composition, what and how to drink + recipe at home

Briefly about the drink
Caribbean Rum Malibu (Caribbean Malibu rum) is not really a rum, but a cocktail rum liqueur. Although, of course, rum is not absent here.
The Malibu coconut liqueur was created in 1980 to make bartenders' workdays easier. It was originally intended to be used in the Pina Colada cocktail, where it replaced rum and coconut milk taken separately. Over time, it found its own fans and took on a life of its own.
After a kind of cruise through the Antilles, the production of the liqueur, taken over by Pernod Ricard, settled in Jamaica. The drink is bottled on the other side of the Atlantic - in Scotland.
The strength of Malibu liqueur
Malibu can be attributed to drinks of medium strength. Its alcohol content is 21 degrees.
Composition of Malibu liqueur
The classic version of the Caribbean drink is made by islanders from improvised means.
It consists of purified light Barbados rum, cane sugar, local ecologically clean water and coconut milk.
The result is a somewhat cloying, slightly whitish substance, whose cloudiness is hidden by the white frosted glass bottles.
By the way, these bottles can also hide from the consumer's eyes the unnatural transparency of the liquor, caused by the replacement of the natural coconut component with artificial essences and flavors.
In addition to the classics, there are several derivative modifications of the drink, obtained by replacing the coconut ingredient with extracts of various tropical fruits.
Such modifications include the following options:
Banana - is sold in bottles with a yellow neck;
Pineapple - recognizable by its orange bottle neck;
Mango - is sold in containers with a red neck;
Passion fruit - is placed in vessels with a sulfur neck.

With what and how to drink Malibu liqueur
There are not many fans of drinking a Caribbean drink in its pure form, but nevertheless, they exist.
In this case, the classic ones are used liqueur glasses.
The substance itself is cooled to a temperature of 8-10 ° C.
At the same time, all kinds of fruits (from apples to passion fruit), creamy desserts and, of course, ice cream are used as an appetizer for this too sweet liqueur.
In addition, the liqueur of interest can be a very pleasant addition to strong coffee and hot chocolate.
At the same time, Malibu, first of all, remains a mix and cocktail component. It can and should be mixed in any proportion with sweet and sour juices: apple, orange, pineapple, etc.д.
As for cocktails, they include not only the famous aforementioned Pina Colada, but also cocktails from this list.
Malibu liqueur recipe at home
It is quite easy to make an analog of the Caribbean drink with your own hands. Moreover, we are not talking about vodka-condensed milk, but about a real rum liqueur. The only problem in this case may be the financial side of the issue.
List of ingredients
Light rum (ideally Barbados) - 500 ml;
Canned coconut milk - 400 ml;
Water - 350 ml;
Coconut flakes - 250 g;
Cane sugar - 350 g;
Vanillin - 1 g (or vanilla sugar - 1 sachet).
The method of preparation
Pour the shavings into a glass jar and pour over the rum.
Keep a tightly closed container for 10 days in a dark place at room temperature, shaking it once every 3-4 days.
Filter the rum and set aside while preparing the syrup (the chips can be thrown away or used for confectionery purposes).
Cook the syrup over low heat until the sugar is completely dissolved (do not allow the substance to darken). A few minutes before removing from heat, add vanilla to the liquid.
Thoroughly mix rum with coconut milk, then add the sugar solution that has cooled to room temperature (ideally, the final strength of the drink should be 21 degrees).
Put the result in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Using a straw, pour the drink into another jar without disturbing the fatty film that has formed on top (it should never get into the poured liquid).
Keep the liquor in a cool, dark place for a week, then bottle it.
Update: 02.08.2017
Category: Liqueurs and Tinctures