Piña colada instantly transports you to warm sandy beaches and turquoise waters. What we dont want is a drink that tastes weak and watery or artificially tropical, as if someone dumped a bottle of tanning oil into the blender.
This version produces a slushy frozen cocktail full of ripe pineapple and rich coconut flavor plus a strong streak of rum.
For an unforgettable Piña colada, use fresh and ripe pineapples. If not, your next best bet is to use the drained diced pineapple from a can.
Ingredients
very ripe peeled and cored pineapple or drained canned pineapple chunks: 140 gm
unsweetened coconut cream, shaken or stirred well to incorporate fat: 50 ml
simple syrup: 30 ml
fresh lemon juice: 1 tbsp
white or gold rum, kept in the freezer until freezer-cold: 75 ml
ice cubes: 114 gm
Pineapple slice and/or maraschino cherry: for garnish
Paper umbrella and straw: for serving
How To Make Pina Colada Cocktail
- In an airtight plastic container, combine pineapple, coconut cream,
simple syrup, and ¾ ounce lime juice and freeze for an hour - Note: the sugar in the mixture may prevent it from freezing solid; this
is okay. - Blend frozen pineapple, ice-cold rum, and ice until thick and slushy.
- Taste, then blend in the remaining ¼ ounce lime juice, if desired. Strain into Poco Grande glass, garnish with pineapple, and if you feel adventurous, serve with an umbrella straw.
Trivia
- The piña colada has been the national drink of Puerto Rico since 1978.
- This cocktail gained worldwide fame after the release of “Escape (The Piña-Colada Song)” by Rupert Holmes in 1979.
- Likewise, jazz icon and flugelhorn player Chuck Mangione released a tune Piña Colada in his album Fun and Games, which was released 1979.
- Although the movie The Godfather Part 2 (1974) is set in 1956 and the drink is said not to have been named as such at least till the 60s, the characters are offered piña coladas in a particular scene.
- Staten Island Ferry is made by combing equal parts Malibu rum and pineapple juice and served over the rocks. The Malibu rum makes the cocktail closely resemble piña colada in flavor. Staten Island Ferry does not require coconut cream and therefore, easily found in bars that lack specialty ingredients and a quality blender that piña colada typically requires.