National Pina Colada Day

The story

The Pina Colada, a tropical cocktail, has a contested origin dating back to the early 1950s or 1960s in Puerto Rico, with three bartenders claiming credit for its creation. The cocktail gained widespread fame in 1979 with the release of Rupert Holmes' song “Escape,” known as “The Pina Colada Song.” Named after one of its key ingredients, freshly pressed pineapple juice, the cocktail typically blends white rum and cream of coconut, served shaken or blended with ice and garnished with a pineapple slice or maraschino cherry. The world of Pina Coladas extends beyond the classic recipe. Variations like the amaretto colada and chi chi swap rum for amaretto or vodka. The Staten Island Ferry replaces rum and coconut cream with Malibu Rum. The Pina Colada influence also extends to desserts, including cupcakes, bars, and parfaits, inspired by the beloved coconut and pineapple flavor combination. Legends attribute the cocktail's origin to 19th-century pirate Roberto Cofresí, while modern claims point to Puerto Rico in 1954, with bartenders Ramón “Monchito” Marrero and Don Ramon Portas Mingot as contenders. Monchito, from Caribe Hilton's Beachcomber Bar, is widely credited with creating the first Pina Colada, capturing the essence of Puerto Rico in a glass. Don Ramon Lopez Iriarry, a scientist, played a role by revolutionizing the coconut cream-making process, enhancing the cocktail's taste and texture.