Piña Colada: Everyone’s Favorite Beach Cocktail O f all the drinks that conjure up images of kicking back on the beach with toes in the ...
Piña Colada: Everyone’s Favorite Beach Cocktail
Of all the drinks that conjure up images of kicking back on the beach with toes in the sand while cares wash away with the waves rolling onto the shores, the Piña Colada probably does it the best. As Puerto Rico’s national drink since 1978, the Piña Colada, or “strained pineapple” as it translates to, is a vacation favorite for its tropical and refreshing flavors.
Having a bad day? A Piña Colada tastes too good and carefree to let you wallow for very long. It’s made with rum, coconut cream and pineapple juice. Most commonly it’s served frozen in the form of a slushie for grown-ups though it can also be served on the rocks. It comes with snacks too – a wedge of pineapple and a maraschino cherry that serve as the garnish.
The history of the Piña Colada dates back to the 19th century when a Puerto Rican pirate named Roberto Cofresí gave his crew a cocktail of coconut, pineapple, and white rum to boost the dwindling morale. It’s completely plausible if you’ve ever had one because there’s no greater mood-booster in the world. However, when Cofresí died in 1825, so too did the recipe.
Fast forward to 1954 when a bartender named Ramon Marrero Perez of the Beachcomber Bar at San Juan’s Caribe Hilton Hotel was said to have recreated this concoction. But in true cocktail fashion, another bartender argued that it was he who invented the drink. Interestingly, he was also named Ramon (Ramon Portas Mingot) and he was also in San Juan. The only difference was the locale and the year, 1963.
Honestly though, does it really even matter who is right about creating the Piña Colada? We’re just glad it exists. It’s so beloved a cocktail that Rupert Holmes wrote a song about it called “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)” back in 1979. It’s still a feel-good classic. And if you want to keep on feeling good, make sure you visit Puerto Rico for National Piña Colada Day on July 10th. If you can’t make it to Puerto Rico, you can celebrate wherever you are by making one yourself.
Create your own Piña Colada escape by taking 2 ounces of coconut rum, 1 ounce of dark rum, 1 1/2-ounces of Coco Lopez, and 1 1/2-ounces of pineapple juice. Pour it all into your blender with plenty of ice and blend until it’s smooth and creamy. Serve it in a tall glass and garnish with pineapple slices and a maraschino cherry. Not feeling up to making it yourself? Head over to your favorite Happy Hour place an ask for a Piña Colada. You’ll soon find your cares are miles and miles away.
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