Though a popular beverage in Puerto Rico, coquito, a coconut-rum liquor, is only sold by four brands throughout the U.S., and by just two in Rhode Island. Within the state, one of these brands is the international liquor giant Bacardi Ltd., and the other is the small, Pawtucket-based business Papis Refrescos LLC, doing business as Papis Coquito.
Now, owner Victor Regino is scaling up what started with a family recipe and a kitchen-based operation to bring the traditional beverage to a wider audience.
Regino has long had a passion for mixology. But making coquito, which means “little coconut” in Spanish, feels particularly meaningful. Growing up, Regino’s grandmother always made the beverage for celebratory occasions, and in 2017 she entrusted him with the revered family recipe.
“She passed away shortly after,” Regino said. “To kind of fill that void of my grandmother not making coquito anymore, I started making it.”
At first, Regino shared the coquito with friends and family but demand quickly grew beyond his immediate circle. Within the first four months of establishing the business, Papis Coquito is now served in 26 different bars, restaurants and liquor stores in Rhode Island.
