This week was National Piña Colada Day. And while I don’t usually participate in these random calendar celebrations, it reminded me of an age-old debate. puerto rico: i.e. birthplace pina colada.
As you know, there are two competing stories about its origins, but the recipe is undisputed.
First, the story goes that Ramon Marrero, a bartender at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, invented the mix in 1954.
But there is another story, one that anyone who has traveled a lot can tell. old san juan You will also know: a stone in Calle Fortaleza is engraved with a historical sign indicating that this drink was born in 1963 and is made in its current location. Barachina Restaurant by bartender Don Ramon Portas Mingot.
This is a claim that has never been resolved (some apocryphal stories suggest that similar cocktail mixes actually predate both histories).
Of course, the advantage is that you can visit and try both cocktails while traveling to Puerto Rico’s capital.
At the iconic Caribe Hilton, your best bet is to go to the lobby bar and order. The results are always solid, even if they are not noticeable. Certainly, it’s a real thrill to have one in a place with actual piña colada history.
But things change when you head to Barrachina.
Located in the courtyard of Fortaleza, Barrachina is a charming, centuries-old building with the soul of Puerto Rico.
And if you ask for a piña colada, you get something truly amazing. The first distinction? This PC is made by mixing coconut cream and pineapple juice in a fixed cycle in a frozen beverage machine.
Once ordered, this ice-cold blend is my favorite rum (the favorite rum of every rum-savvy local) and the island’s legendary Ron del Barrilito. The biggest difference is the latter. Compared to Bacardi or Don Q, the rum (which is rated 2 or 3 stars, always asking for a 3) has infinite character, with lovely notes of caramel, toffee and butterscotch, and perhaps most importantly, its power at 86 proof.
If you compare the two piña coladas, it’s not really a competition. (I would like to add that the mofongo from Barrachina is also excellent and a great partner for Piña Colada.
The verdict? Barachina You win whatever you can get your hands on.
And after one or two of these, you’ll forget all about the ongoing cocktail debate.
And if you try both in one day, you’ve made your own history.
