Ingredients
Quality ingredients make all the difference. Each component plays a crucial role.
Method
Technique transforms ingredients into something extraordinary.
Add all ingredients to a blender with 1 cup of ice
Blend until smooth and frothy
Pour into a hurricane glass
Garnish with pineapple wedge and cherry
Glassware
Served blended in a hurricane glass
Garnish
Fresh pineapple wedge
Cherry on pick
Master's Tips
Professional insights to elevate your craft
Use cream of coconut for richness; coconut milk is too thin
Crush the ice before blending for a smoother texture
A short shaken version works when a blender isn't handy
Variations & Riffs
Classic cocktails inspire countless variations. Here are some popular riffs on the Piña Colada.
Painkiller
Dark rum, pineapple, orange, and cream of coconut shaken over ice and dusted with nutmeg—the British Virgin Islands' signature sipper.
Chi Chi
A tropical vodka cocktail that's essentially a Piña Colada made with vodka instead of rum – creamy, fruity, and refreshingly tropical.
Lava Flow
Tropical showstopper—strawberry purée 'lava' over a coconut‑pineapple rum colada base.
Blue Hawaiian
Tropical crowd‑pleaser—light rum, blue curaçao, pineapple, and cream of coconut for an electric‑blue vacation in a glass.
Other Variations
Shaken Piña Colada
Shakes ingredients with ice and serves on the rocks for a lighter texture.
Changes
History & Heritage
“Bartender Ramón "Monchito" Marrero debuted the Piña Colada in 1954 at San Juan's Caribe Hilton after experimenting with the new Coco López cream of coconut. Its frothy mix of rum, pineapple and coconut quickly became Puerto Rico's national drink and a symbol of tropical leisure worldwide. The cocktail won international fame through 1970s tiki culture and remains synonymous with beach vacations.”
More to Explore
If you enjoyed this cocktail, these similar creations might capture your interest.
Blue Hawaiian
Tropical crowd‑pleaser—light rum, blue curaçao, pineapple, and cream of coconut for an electric‑blue vacation in a glass.
Lava Flow
Tropical showstopper—strawberry purée 'lava' over a coconut‑pineapple rum colada base.
Virgin Piña Colada
Creamy pineapple and coconut served blender-smooth for a booze-free taste of the tropics.