Happy National Pina Colada Day!

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Every year on July 10th is Pina Colada Day! Here is some history and a delicious recipe to help you celebrate!

July is coming up quick and with it the excuse to tip back a few tropical drinks. One of the most popular alcoholic drinks in the world is the pina colada. This drink is simple to make and delicious to drink. So, when July 10th comes around, you better be ready to celebrate National Pina Colada Day!

History of the Pina Colada

The drink’s name originates from the two words that inspired it: Pina, which means “pineapple,” and Colada, which means “strained.” With pineapple juice mixed with a creamy coconut cream and a bit of white rum thrown in for good measure, this drink is a delightful mix of all things that speak to the Caribbean and tropical regions.

The oldest stories of this rum infused fruit drink start back in the early 19th century. In a time where the Caribbean was patrolled by pirates, one captain by the name of Roberto Cofresi, is credited with the creation of a future international delight. This pirate captain would boost his crew’s morale through using a mixture of coconut, pineapple, and white rum.

After the death of Cofresi in 1825, the recipe is believed to have been lost for over a century until 1954. Ramón Marrero is then accredited with the pina colada recipe creation during his time as a bartender in Puerto Rico. In 1978, Puerto Rico officially recognized the pina colada as the official drink of the nation. 

How Do You Make a Pina Colada?

The three simple ingredients are coconut cream, pineapple juice, and white rum. Recipes differ depending upon how strong you want them to be, but this is the basic, starter recipe:

  • 3 ounces coconut cream
  • 6 ounces fresh pineapple juice
  • 5 ounces white rum
  • Crushed ice





Take all three ingredients plus ice, and blend in a bar blender until consistency is smooth. Pour into a chilled glass and enjoy!

This is the most basic of pina colada recipes. Around the world there are tons of variations that include extra or different ingredients and alcohols. Additionally, you can often find diced pineapple or shaved coconut in some recipes to give drinks a fresher taste.

After reading about the history, you can now impress others with a little history lesson at the bar. As always, enjoy responsibly!

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