Creamy, tropical, and usually topped with a fun paper umbrella, Piña Coladas are essential summer drinks much like these riffs with similar flavors.
The history of Piña Coladas traces back to tropical Puerto Rico, where this beloved cocktail’s origins are rooted. Its creation is credited to a bartender named Ramón “Monchito” Marrero Pérez, who concocted the first Piña Colada at the Caribe Hilton Hotel in San Juan in 1954. Inspired by the lush surroundings and abundant local ingredients, Monchito aimed to craft a refreshing and delightful cocktail that embodied the essence of the island. The original recipe comprised rum, coconut cream, and freshly squeezed pineapple juice, blended with ice to create a smooth, frothy drink.
Over the years, the Piña Colada’s popularity soared, and it became an iconic symbol of leisure and vacation indulgence. In 1978, the Puerto Rican government declared the Piña Colada its official national drink, further solidifying its place in the island’s cultural identity. Today, this tropical drink is cherished worldwide, served in numerous variations, and has cemented its status as a timeless classic for those seeking a taste of paradise in a glass.
Celebrate summer or a warm destination with these cocktails that channel the flavors of a classic Piña Colada, whether pineapple, rum, or coconut.
1. Blueberry Pomegranate Colada Agua Fresca
A brunch beverage from All Day Baby in Los Angeles, this fruity colada agua fresca has the enticing fizz level of a Piña Colada and a tart kick of pomegranate tempered by the sweetness of fresh blueberries. It’s refreshing, booze-free, and if you add coconut cream, you might as well be on vacation.
2. Miami Vice
Frozen canned pineapple and bitters-infused strawberries take this daiquiri-piña colada mash-up to the next level.
3. Tropical Rum Punch
Keep the flavors of coconut, pineapple, white rum, and lime juice, adding passionfruit and grated nutmeg, with this froth-free, batchable summer punch.
4. Halo-Halo Cocktail
Sip this spin on the tropical combination of silver rum, lime juice, and pineapple juice, that adds purple ube milk and sweet Leblon Cachaça.
5 Isle of Islay Swizzle
Smoky single-malt Scotches are almost never used in tropical drinks, but mixology expert Julie Reiner was sure that one would taste great with passionfruit juice, plus coconut liqueur and a pineapple sage sprig.
