Piña colada

The piña colada is a beloved sweet cocktail originating from Puerto Rico. This tropical delight combines rum, cream of coconut or coconut milk, and pineapple juice. It's typically served blended or shaken with ice and garnished with a pineapple wedge and a maraschino cherry.

The name "piña colada" translates to "strained pineapple" in Spanish, referring to the freshly pressed and strained pineapple juice used in the drink. The history of the piña colada is somewhat enigmatic, with one story suggesting that Puerto Rican pirate Roberto Cofresí invented it in the 19th century to boost his crew's morale.

Both the Caribe Hilton Hotel and Barrachina restaurant in Puerto Rico claim responsibility for creating the modern piña colada in the 1950s and 1960s, respectively. In 1978, Puerto Rico even declared it their official drink. The piña colada has also made its mark in pop culture, featuring in songs like "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" by Rupert Holmes and "Piña Colada" by Chuck Mangione.

To make a piña colada, you typically blend or shake cream of coconut, pineapple juice, and rum with crushed ice. The finishing touch is a garnish of a pineapple wedge and a maraschino cherry. There are many variations, including different rum types and proportions, as well as non-alcoholic versions.