The History of Piña Coladas

In Honor of National Piña Colada Day, we are taking a look at the history behind this iconic drink. The piña colada was created by a bartender named Ramón “Monchito” Marrero at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1954. His blend of rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice quickly became popular. For 35 years following the creation of his iconic drink, Marrero continued to personally serve the cocktail as a bartender at the hotel. In 1978, the piña colada was declared the official drink of Puerto Rico. In 2004, the Caribe Hilton was presented with a proclamation signed by Governor Sila María Calderón in honor of the 50th anniversary of the famous drink. Today, the piña colada remains a popular beverage choice that is closely associated with relaxation and vacationing.