The National Drink of Puerto Rico: The Pina Colada
Reporting from: San Juan, Puerto Rico, more specifically, the Hilton Caribe Hotel, the home of the Pina Colada.
There are a few circulating legends of the Pina Colada, however, the most widely accepted story credits the creation of the piña colada to Ramón “Monchito” Marrero Pérez, a bartender at the Caribe Hilton Hotel in San Juan. Marrero reportedly spent three months experimenting with different combinations before perfecting the recipe, which eventually became the iconic tropical cocktail we know today. His goal was to capture the rich culture and vibrant flavors of the island in a cocktail.
In 1978, the Government of Puerto Rico declared the Piña Colada the official drink of the island, cementing its status as a beloved cultural icon.
The Pina Colada is a rather versatile drink. It can be served alcoholic, or non-alcoholic. It can be blended or served over ice. Originally, blenders were hard to come by, so most Pina Coladas were served over ice. Today, our access to blenders has transformed the way most of the world drinks pina coladas.
I’ve taken it upon myself to sample Pina Coladas from various locations around the island (for educational purposes, of course). Here are my biggest takeaways:
- Watch the ice. Too much ice takes away from the creamy texture.
- A dash of Baileys added a lot of depth to the flavor, it was different and untraditional, but I enjoyed it.
- Garnish with dried pineapple. A pretty Pina Colada makes all the difference.
- The creamiest Pina Colada is in fact at the Hilton.
The Hilton Caribe Hotels Seventy-Year-Old Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 2oz Rum
- 1oz Cream of Coconut
- 1oz Pineapple Juice
- 1oz Heavy Cream
- Fresh or dried Pineapple
Directions:
- Combine ingredients with ice in blender
- Blend until smooth
- Garnish and enjoy!