The Pina Colada Cocktail

The piña colada cocktail (which means “strained pineapple” in Spanish) is a tropical rum cocktail made with rum, coconut cream and pineapple. The piña colada cocktail is generally classed as a Tiki-style drink and is normally served either blended or shaken with ice. The drink is often served in a highball or hurricane glass or, for that extra touch of theatre; you can scoop out a pineapple and use the shell to serve the cocktail. If served in a glass the standard garnish is either a pineapple slice or a maraschino cherry. The piña colada cocktail is the official beverage of Puerto Rico.

There are a couple of stories about the origins of the piña colada cocktail. The oldest tale is that the drink was invented by a Puerto Rican pirate called El Pirate Cofresi who roamed the seas in the early 1800`s. The story goes that he would give his crew a concoction that contained coconut, pineapple and white rum, which would later be known as the piña colada. A more creditable tale was that the piña colada cocktail was created by bar man called Ramón “Monchito” Marrero who worked at the Beachcomber Bar in San Juan in Puerto Rico. The story goes that the management of the bar had asked “Monchito” to create a new signature drink for the bar that would blow people away and after several months the piña colada was born.

The defining ingredient in creating an authentic piña colada is coconut cream. Coconut cream can be difficult to find and hence it is sometimes preferable to make your own. You can make your own coconut cream by simmering two cups of shredded, unsweetened coconut in two cups of milk until the mixture is frothy. Strain this mixture through a cheese-cloth, squeezing out as much liquid as possible, and toss the coconut. You must then refrigerate the coconut milk until it sets.The coconut cream will rise to the top of the milk. Strain this off, and use it in your authentic piña colada cocktail.

Due to the widespread popularity of the piña colada cocktail, several variations were created, such as the Caribou Lou, which uses Mailbu Rum, pineapple juice and 151 Rum, the Belizean piña colada, which uses evaporated milk instead of coconut cream and the Kahlua Colada which substitutes Kahlua for the rum.

How To Make a Pina Colada

Cocktail Ingredients

50 ml White Rum, 100 ml Pineapple Juice, 25 ml Coconut Cream, 25 ml Cream, Pineapple Slice, pinch of Salt

How to make a Pina Colada

Chill highball glass. Add all ingredients to mixing tin and fill with ice. Shake vigorously for 10 – 15 seconds. Fill highball glass with fresh ice and strain drink into glass. Garnish with pineapple slice, add straw and serve.