A beautiful day and a great day to discuss drinks! Did you know that the Pina Colada originated here in Puerto Rico?
Yes it did.
So as you may know Puerto Rico is an island dedicated to the celebration of food and drink with many festivals throughout the year that focus on food and drinks. Well that is a long-standing tradition.
Two bartenders from Puerto Rico won a contest for the ownership of their national drink. Ramón "Monchito" Marrero Pérez claims to have first made it at the Caribe Hilton Hotel's Beachcomber Bar in San Juan in 1954, using the then newly-available coco lópez cream of coconut. Coco lópez was developed in Puerto Rico in 1948 by Don Ramón López-Irizarry, hence the Puerto Rican connection and the 1952 account of the drink's creation. Some say the drink did not acquire its name until the 1960s. The Caribe Hilton Hotel sits on a 17-acre peninsula outside San Juan and was the first luxury hotel to open in the region, becoming a popular destination for the rich and famous who helped spread word of the drink.
Ramón Portas Mingot also says he created it in 1963 at the Barrachina Restaurant, 104 Fortaleza Street, Old San Juan. The restaurant stands by his claim to this day.
Even pirates can lay claim to creating this drink: Puerto Rican pirate Roberto Cofresi was said to have used a concoction of white rum, coconut and pineapple to boost the spirits of his crew prior to his death in 1825. Unfortunately his recipe was lost when he died so he gets little credit with the creation of this famous beverage.
National Piña Colada Day is celebrated on the islands on 10 July and is considered to be the national beverage of Puerto Rico.
Yes it did.
So as you may know Puerto Rico is an island dedicated to the celebration of food and drink with many festivals throughout the year that focus on food and drinks. Well that is a long-standing tradition.
Two bartenders from Puerto Rico won a contest for the ownership of their national drink. Ramón "Monchito" Marrero Pérez claims to have first made it at the Caribe Hilton Hotel's Beachcomber Bar in San Juan in 1954, using the then newly-available coco lópez cream of coconut. Coco lópez was developed in Puerto Rico in 1948 by Don Ramón López-Irizarry, hence the Puerto Rican connection and the 1952 account of the drink's creation. Some say the drink did not acquire its name until the 1960s. The Caribe Hilton Hotel sits on a 17-acre peninsula outside San Juan and was the first luxury hotel to open in the region, becoming a popular destination for the rich and famous who helped spread word of the drink.
Ramón Portas Mingot also says he created it in 1963 at the Barrachina Restaurant, 104 Fortaleza Street, Old San Juan. The restaurant stands by his claim to this day.
Even pirates can lay claim to creating this drink: Puerto Rican pirate Roberto Cofresi was said to have used a concoction of white rum, coconut and pineapple to boost the spirits of his crew prior to his death in 1825. Unfortunately his recipe was lost when he died so he gets little credit with the creation of this famous beverage.
National Piña Colada Day is celebrated on the islands on 10 July and is considered to be the national beverage of Puerto Rico.
Don Ramon Portas Mingot is credited with the creation of the Pina Colada in 1963 as bartender of the Barrachina.
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