John Leguizamo Says 'It’s Not Christmas' Without Coquito at His 'Big Latin' Holiday Dinner (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

John Leguizamo.Photo: NBC/Getty

John Leguizamohas the perfect, annual “big Latin” holiday — and the star of the evening is always a cinnamon-y delight.

But the real sign of a Leguizamo family holiday gathering is coquito: “Iif you don’t have that, it’s not Christmas.”

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“Coquito is a beautiful thing — It’s a chemistry to make it. It has to be the perfect amount of coconut milk, coconut water, rum, the sugar, the cinnamon,” he explains. “It can’t be too sweet or too weak. It’s such a perfect formula.”

To accompany the alcoholic beverage, Leguizamo’s mother makes tamales “because she’s Colombian — so she brings tamales, con chocolate. We get double cultural pleasures.”

TheViolent Nightactor, a dad of two, also chats with PEOPLE about something one of his cult-classic films has in common with a holiday movie staple. 1993’sSuper Mario Bros., in which Leguizamo played Luigi, received negative critical reviews but has gained much love and admiration in the decades since.

“You know,It’s A Wonderful Life, it had the same thing. It was a critical bomb. It bombed at the box office, and yet it became an American staple forChristmas,” Leguizamo says. “So you never know. It’s fascinating. And I’m glad that I brought joy to kids and was part of their childhood.”

John Leguizamo Liveat Rikers, from Azimuth Films, is available to stream now on Black Experience on Xfinity and Xumo.

source: people.com