Cocktail Party Ideas

Piña Colada is a sweet, rum-based cocktail containing light rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice. The drink is typically served either blended or shaken with ice. Two common garnishes are a pineapple wedge and a maraschino cherry. Piña Colada is known as the official beverage of Puerto Rico.

The earliest reference to a drink called a Piña Colada containing rum, coconut cream and pineapple juice, occurred in the April 16, 1950, in a newspaper "New York Times". Here's the original article : "Drinks in the West Indies range from Martinique's famous rum punch to Cuba's pina colada (rum, pineapple and coconut milk). Key West has a variety of lime swizzles and punches, and Granadians use nutmeg in their rum drinks."

The Caribe Hilton Hotel in Puerto Rico claims that their bartender, Ramon "Monchito" Marrero created the Piña Colada on August 15, 1954 after spending 3 months perfecting the recipe. There is also a bar in Old San Juan that makes a similar claim.

Although Barrachina, a restaurant in Puerto Rico claims to be the birth place of Piña Colada. Here is the story of the birth of Piña Colada as claimed by Barrachina.

"In 1963, on a trip to South America Mr Barrachina met another popular Spaniard and bartender Mr. Ramon Portas Mingot. Don Ramon has worked with the best places in Buenos Aires and associated with 'Papillon' the most luxurious bar in Carcao and was also recognized for his cocktail recipe books.

Pepe Barrachina and Don Ramon developed a great relationship. While working as the main bartender at Barrachina (a restaurant in Puerto Ric), Ramon mixed pineapple juice, coconut cream, condensed milk and ice in a blender, creating a delicious and refreshing drink, known today as the Piña Colada."

There are several variations of this drink, here are some of them:
Virgin Piña Colada - without the rum
Chi Chi - vodka substituted for rum
Miami Vice or Lava Flow - Strawberry Daiquiri and Pina Colada blended together
Amaretto Colada


Even though Piña Colada is a cocktail, which has to be prepared just before drinking, some companies decided to ensure everyone could get a sip of this wonderful drink, no matter where they are, and started to produce it in bottles.