Caribbean Piña Colada
3.6 27 ratings
Ingredients
How to make
Serve in a hurricane glass
- 1 BLEND ingredients with crushed ice
- 2 Pour into glass and serve with straws.
History
Angostura and salt reduce the sweetness of this Colada.
The Piña Colada’s origins are debated, with several claims to its creation. However, a 1954 article in The New Yorker attributes the drink to Ramon Marrero, a bartender at the Caribe Hilton Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, who claims to have invented it in 1954. The beverage’s name translates from Spanish to “strained pineapple.” Originally, the Piña Colada was made with fresh pineapple, coconut cream, and rum. The drink gained widespread popularity after it was featured in a 1978 film. In 1978, the Piña Colada was declared the official drink of Puerto Rico. The drink’s creator, Ramon Marrero, worked at the Caribe Hilton for 37 years. The original recipe, as stated by Marrero, called for 2 ounces of rum, 1 ounce of lime juice, 6 ounces of pineapple juice, and 2 ounces of cream of coconut. He also added a quarter of a pineapple and crushed ice. The drink was served in a 10-ounce glass. There are also claims that the Piña Colada was invented in the 1930s by a Puerto Rican pirate named Roberto Cofresí. He is said to have mixed rum with pineapple juice and coconut milk to boost his crew’s morale. This story, however, has not been substantiated. Another contender for its creation is Ricardo Garcia, a restaurateur who claims to have created the drink in 1964 at his restaurant, Barrachina, in Old San Juan. He claims that the original recipe was published in the San Juan Star on July 15, 1964. Regardless of its exact origins, the Piña Colada has become a beloved tropical cocktail enjoyed worldwide, with variations appearing in countless bars and homes since its popularization in the latter half of the 20th century.