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The Birthplace of the Piña Colada

This Week in Hilton History


Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico is home to the first ever Piña Colada. In 1954, the hotel’s bartender, Ramón “Monchito” Marrero experimented with a new recipe that blended rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice in an icy beverage. After three months of perfecting the recipe, Marrero felt that the drink finally captured the flavors of Puerto Rico and named it the “Piña Colada.” The new cocktail was served by Marrero for 35 years, and became the official drink of Puerto Rico in 1978. Browse the photos of Marrero and his legendary creation.