The classic tropical cocktail with a distinctive look and taste would have to be the Pina Colada. The simple yet exquisite mixture of rum, coconut milk and pineapple juice has been a favorite in the tropics and with the less experienced cocktail drinkers looking for a sweet cocktail that drinks more like a smoothie than an alcoholic beverage. The drink has become a popular drink to enjoy poolside or anywhere offering a glimpse of the ocean or the feel of sand between the toes.
The Pina Colada has roots that can be traced to Puerto Rico and has long been considered the island Country’s national drink. The cocktail was said to be invented by a bartender at the luxurious Caribe Hilton Hotel’s Beachcomber Bar in 1952 shortly after a key ingredient, Coco Lopez cream of coconut, was developed. Puerto Rico honors the cocktail with a National Pina Colada Day that is celebrated each year on July 10th.