Do you like piña coladas? How about getting caught in the rain? The sweet, rum-based cocktail that we celebrate today, National Piña Colada Day, was born in Puerto Rico in the 1950s, became Puerto Rico’s national drink in 1978 and inspired a hit song in 1979. And like any famous invention, there is disagreement about who first came up with the recipe for the drink.
Piña colada means ‘strained pineapple,’ which refers to the freshly pressed and strained pineapple juice used in the drink along with rum and cream of coconut.
The Caribe Hilton, a luxury hotel in San Juan, claims the first piña colada was served in its Beachcombers Bar in 1954 by bartender Ramon “Monchito” Marrero.
However, history.com says another Caribe Hilton bartender, Ricardo Gracia, has put forth claims that he invented the cocktail in 1952 following a strike by a coconut-cutters union.
San Juan restaurant Barrachina, which opened in the late 1950s, claims Spanish mixologist Ramon Portas Mingot concocted the first piña colada inside its doors in 1963, according to history.com.
On July 10, 1978 the piña colada was declared the national drink of Puerto Rico, and the next year it was firmly established into pop culture by British-American singer-songwriter Rupert Holmes. Holmes’ “Escape” became a number-one song in the United States in December 1979 and is best known for its chorus: “If you like piña coladas and getting caught in the rain. You can listen to the song here.
It seems as if most people agree that the Caribe Hilton was most likely the place where the cocktail was first mixed. In 2004, the Caribe Hilton was presented with a proclamation signed by Puerto Rico’s governor as part of the Piña Colada’s 50th anniversary celebration that supported the Caribe Hilton as the drink’s birthplace.
You can get a piña colada almost anywhere in Orlando, but here are a few suggestions:
Chiller’s Frozen Drink Bar: Bare-bones tropical bar offers a variety of frozen daiquiris, piña coladas and other drink specials. Address: 33 W Church St, Orlando. Hours: 4:30 pm to 2 am daily. More info: churchstreetbars.com
Mi Viejo San Juan Restaurant: Straight-up Puerto Rican dishes delivered in a family-run environment with a variety of available beverages including piña coladas. Address: 7229 E Colonial Dr, Orlando. Hours: 9 am — 9 pm Monday through Saturday; 11 am — 9 pm Sunday. More info: miviejosanjuanrest.com
Chuy’s: The Tex-Mex restaurant may be famous for it’s margaritas, but the piña coladas made with coconut tequila and malibu rum are pretty rockin’ too. Address: 170 S. Orlando Ave., Winter Park. Hours: 11am to 10pm Sunday – Thursday; 11 am — 11 pm Friday and Saturday. More info: chuys.com
Or if you prefer to stay at home and chill poolside, here’s a drink recipe to get you going:
Caribe Hilton’s Piña Colada recipe
2 ounces rum
1 ounce cream of coconut
1 ounce heavy cream
6 ounces fresh pineapple juice
1/2 cup crushed ice
Mix rum, cream of coconut, heavy cream and pineapple juice in a blender.
Add ice and mix for 15 seconds.
Serve in a 12-ounce glass and garnish with fresh pineapple and a cherry.
If National Piña Colada Day isn’t for you, today is also Clerihew Day.
Coming tomorrow: All-American Pet Photo Day!
