The Bottom Line: Quick facts about Pina Coladas.
The Full Story:
- The piña colada was created on August 16, 1954 at the Caribe Hilton’s Beachcomber Bar in San Juan, Puerto Rico by its alleged creator, Ramón “Monchito” Marrero. Apparently, the hotel management had expressly requested Monchito to mix a new signature drink that would delight the demanding palates of its star-studded clientele. Monchito accepted the challenge, and after three intense months of blending, shaking and experimenting, the first piña colada was born.
- The piña colada has been the official beverage of Puerto Rico since 1978.
- There are many stories as to the origin of the word “cocktail.” Its use goes back to at least 1806. It may be derived from the French 'coquetier.' meaning eggcup. In New Orleans around 1793, Antoine Amedee Pechaud (inventor of Peychaud bitters) served a mixture of Cognac and his own bitters to customers in his apothecary shop. He served them in eggcups, and the Americans would pronounce 'coquetier' as “cocktail.”