Cheers: Pina Colada

Love or loathe the Pina Colada, one can’t deny that it’s a drink made for summery temperatures. The deft blend of pineapple and coconut even smells like summer. Little wonder it was first invented in Puerto Rico, where rum is plentiful and cream of coconut mixer “Coco Lopez” was first pioneered. According to lore, it was originally served up by its creator, Ramon “Monchito” Marrero, at the Caribe Hilton’s Beachcomber Bar in San Juan, as a signature drink to present to the hotel’s high-class celebrity clientele. Since then, this iconic drink has flourished everywhere from Jimmy Buffet songs to beachside saloons.

1/2 cup crushed ice

6 fluid oz. pineapple juice

2 fluid oz. rum

1 fluid oz. coconut cream

1 fluid oz. heavy cream

1 pineapple wedge

1 maraschino cherry

In a blender, combine ice, pineapple juice, rum, coconut cream and heavy cream. Blend until smooth. Pour into glass and garnish with pineapple wedge and cherry.(Recipe courtesy allrecipes.com)