It’s July – and what better month to celebrate the holiday cocktail of choice, the delicious Pina Colada. The 10th July is Pina Colada Day and premium, Puerto Rican rum producer, Don Q, is calling for the on-trade to mix up this classic cocktail to the original recipe.
In 1954, Ramón “Monchito” Marrero, bartender at the Caribe Hilton Hotel’s renowned ‘Beachcomber Bar’ in San Juan, created this refreshing, fruity drink using Don Q’s classic gold rum. The Pina Colada fast became a favourite of 1950s high society, so much so that Joan Crawford reportedly stated it was: “better than slapping Bette Davis in the face.” How’s that for making Hollywood history?
Seventy years on and it’s still a staple on cocktail menus worldwide – and Don Q is still relishing its place as a prominent, and provenance-fuelled, Caribbean spirit of choice. Distilled in Puerto Rico for over 150 years, this family-run distillery blends creativity with science to create a range of luxurious rums, each of which are as delicious as the next. The company also takes its environmental responsibility seriously, looking after the surrounding ecosphere of the island and surrounding Caribbean Sea.
In celebration of Don Q’s place in legendary cocktail history, distributor Mangrove Global is working in partnership with venues up and down the UK to bring Marrero’s original Pina Colada recipe to the great British drinker.
Here’s how ..
Ingredients
1¾ oz Don Q Gold rum
1⅓ oz Pineapple juice
1 oz Coco Lopez Cream of Coconut
dash Angostura bitters
Method
Blend your ingredients together with a half scoop of cubed ice until light and frothy. The result should be aerated, but not too thick. Pour into a tulip glass and garnish with a slice of Pineapple and a Maraschino Cherry.
#mangrovedrinks – Cheers!