Hey, July is filled up with light-hearted holidays and today it’s Pina Colada Day! Yesterday we honored sugar cookies, let’s give its’ own to Pina Colada today. This island cocktail is refreshing and fruity, and no matter where you are – blend the pineapple juice, rum and coconut cream and drink it all up. It’s a perfect way to enjoy this all-time favorite dreaming about to sit on a sandy white beach and to relax. The pina colada has become the official beverage of Puerto Rico since 1978. You will remember, Rupert Holmes inscribed even a song to this tropical drink, “If you like Pina Coladas (And getting caught in the rain!)”. In fact, the Pina Colada is today considered to be the most recognized tropical rum drink of all time.

Well, the very term of “piña colada” means “strained pineapple” in Spanish, as freshly pressed and strained pineapple juice used in the cocktail’s preparation. The truth may never be uncovered, but the fact is the origin of the Pina Colada is shrouded in special touch of various and numerous legends. There are a number of different variants of how this fruity cocktail appeared. We can take that the piña colada was invented in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1963 by Ramón Portas Mingot, in 1954 by Ricardo Gracia or Ramón Marrero, or in Cuba in 1950. Some believe that Roberto Cofresi, a 19th century pirate from Puerto Rico, served a mixture of white rum, coconut and pineapple to his crew, but the recipe of this pina colada prototype was lost after his death in 1852. Some think that the history with Pepe Barrachina was the real truth. Pepe, being an owner of restaurant in Old San Juan called La Barrachina, got to know Ramon Portas Mingot, a Spaniard and a popular bartender. Don Ramon created pina colada, mixing pineapple juice, coconut cream, condensed milk and ice in a blender. And finally, according to various sources, the Caribe Hilton Hotel in Puerto Rico claims that their bartender, Ramon “Monchito” Marrero created the piña colada. He made it at the Beachcomber Bar on August 15, 1954.This story is considered to be most credible and confirmed by José L. Díaz De Villegas in his book “Puerto Rico La Gran Cocina Del Caribe”. The truth (ha-ha!) is out there and we probably never get down to bed-rock, but like pina colada none the less.

There are many recipes of how to make a piña colada, many variations over the year. Russian ladies especially like the Pina colada Martini or Mock Pina colada. The simple original recipe is that. Pour 3 ounces of coconut cream, 6 ounces of pineapple juice and 1½ ounces of white rum into a blender or shaker with crushed ice, and blend or shake very well until smooth. Pour into chilled glass, garnish with pineapple wedge and/or a maraschino cherry. Put in a little umbrella and enjoy this summer, making your own escape.
Cheers!