Looking for the best rum for a Piña Colada? The short answer: a smooth rum that stays in the background and lets coconut and pineapple shine. Traditionally that means a white or light rum. A lightly spiced rum makes a warmer, more interesting version.
The classic Piña Colada
The drink is most often credited to bartender Ramón “Monchito” Marrero, said to have made it in 1954 at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The story is still debated, but in 1978 Puerto Rico named it the official drink. The International Bartenders Association recipe is 50 ml white rum, 30 ml coconut cream and 50 ml pineapple juice, blended or shaken with ice.
What makes a rum good for a Piña Colada
Coconut cream and pineapple are sweet and rich, so the rum should be smooth and not too heavy. Look for something easy to drink on its own at 37.5% to 40% vol., with gentle fruit or spice notes that sit well with tropical flavours. Very peaty, smoky or overproof styles tend to fight the coconut.
The Beach Heaven twist: Spiced Velvet Colada
Our Spiced Velvet carries notes of orange and lime, and spice and citrus go naturally with coconut and pineapple. Swap it for white rum and you get a warmer, slightly more grown-up Colada. This is a serving suggestion, not a classic recipe.
- 50 ml Beach Heaven Spiced Velvet
- 30 ml coconut cream
- 50 ml pineapple juice
- Crushed ice, or blend with a cup of ice for a frozen version
Shake hard with ice and strain over fresh crushed ice, or blend until smooth. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and a leaf.
A lighter, pink version
Prefer something brighter? Try Pink Dream, with hibiscus, grapefruit and blueberry notes, in place of white rum. It gives the drink a gentle floral blush and a touch of citrus. Same measures as above.
Frozen or on the rocks
Blended with ice, a Piña Colada turns thick and frosty. Shaken and poured over crushed ice, it is lighter and a little sharper. Use coconut cream, not coconut milk, for body, and chill the glass first.
More ideas are in the cocktail collection. You can also read classic rum cocktails and how to drink rum. Enjoy responsibly.