Drink Recipe:: Piña Colada

Ah, the Piña Colada. It's one of those drinks that just screams "vacation" to me. The combination of pineapple and coconut is such a classic, tropical flavor. So, let's dive in and learn a little bit more about the Piña Colada.

Origin Story The Piña Colada was first created in Puerto Rico in the 1950s. Its creator, Ramón "Monchito" Marrero, was tasked with creating a new signature drink for the Caribe Hilton hotel in San Juan. After experimenting with different ingredients, Marrero finally landed on a delicious combination of rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice. The drink was an instant hit, and the Piña Colada quickly became a beloved tropical cocktail.

Ingredients To make a Piña Colada, you'll need the following ingredients:

• 2 oz. white rum
• 2 oz. pineapple juice
• 1.5 oz. coconut cream
• 1 cup of ice
• Pineapple slice and maraschino cherry for garnish

Recipe

1. Add the rum, pineapple juice, coconut cream, and ice to a blender.
2. Blend until smooth.
3. Pour into a hurricane glass.
4. Garnish with a pineapple slice and maraschino cherry.

Who Makes It Best When it comes to who makes the best Piña Colada, it's tough to say. However, one place that is well-known for serving up delicious Piña Coladas is the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, where the drink was first created. In fact, they even have a special Piña Colada anniversary celebration every year! Another great spot to try a Piña Colada is the Barrachina restaurant in Old San Juan, which claims to have invented the drink before Marrero.

Personal Opinion In my personal opinion, the Piña Colada is best enjoyed on a hot summer day, preferably while sitting on a beach somewhere. It's such a refreshing and tropical drink that just puts me in a vacation state of mind. As for food pairings, I think it would go well with any sort of grilled seafood dish, such as shrimp or fish tacos.