The Story
Born at the Caribe Hilton, San Juan
In 1954, bartender Ramón "Monchito" Marrero was working at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan and set out to create a drink that captured the flavor of Puerto Rico. He spent three months experimenting with combinations of rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice before landing on the blend he felt finally got it right. He named it the "Piña Colada" — Spanish for "strained pineapple" — and went on to serve it at the hotel for 35 years.
The drink caught on far beyond the hotel bar. In 1978, the piña colada was officially named the national drink of Puerto Rico, cementing its place as one of the island's most recognizable exports.
