Pina Colada cocktail in a hurricane glass

Cocktail · Rum Cocktails

Pina Colada Recipe

Name: Pina Colada
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1 drink
Cuisine: International
Ingredients: 50 ml White rum; 30 ml Cream of coconut; 50 ml Pineapple juice

Rum, coconut cream and pineapple, blended or shaken.

White rum

Base Spirit

~12%

Approx ABV

Easy

Difficulty

5 min

Prep Time

🥂 Hurricane glass 🧊 Blended Creamy, sweet, tropical

The Piña Colada is a creamy tropical drink built on rum, coconut and pineapple. Cream of coconut, not coconut milk, gives it the right body.

Ingredients

Makes

50 ml White rum
30 ml Cream of coconut
50 ml Pineapple juice

Garnish: Pineapple wedge

How to Make a Pina Colada

Add all ingredients to a blender with a cup of crushed ice.
Blend until smooth.
Pour into a chilled hurricane glass.
Garnish with a pineapple wedge.

Best Bottles for a Pina Colada in India

Top pick

Bacardi White Rum

From ₹205 · ★ 7.2/10
Light base that lets coconut and pineapple lead

Budget

Old Monk White Rum

From ₹150 ·
Budget option

Alternative

Captain Morgan Original Spiced

From ₹250 · ★ 7.5/10
Spiced rum for extra vanilla

Alternative

Bacardi Black Rum

From ₹115 · ★ 7.4/10
Float 15ml on top for depth

Prices are the lowest listed India price and vary by state. Check each spirit page for the full state-wise table.

Tips for a Better Pina Colada

Use cream of coconut, such as the cocktail ingredient, rather than coconut milk. It is sweeter and thicker.
Fresh pineapple juice gives a brighter drink than canned.

About the Pina Colada

The Piña Colada is the national drink of Puerto Rico, a status it has held officially since 1978. The name means "strained pineapple".

The strongest claim to its invention belongs to Ramón "Monchito" Marrero, a bartender at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, who said he perfected the recipe in 1954 after three months of trials. The drink depended on a new product: Coco López, a sweetened cream of coconut developed in Puerto Rico in 1948 by Ramón López Irizarry. Barrachina, a restaurant in Old San Juan, also claims the drink and dates its version to 1963.

Rupert Holmes's 1979 hit "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" made the name familiar everywhere. It regularly ranks among the most in-demand cocktails worldwide, alongside the Margarita and the Mojito.

Pina Colada Variations

Virgin Piña Colada: leave out the rum and add more pineapple juice.
Painkiller: dark rum, pineapple, orange juice and cream of coconut with grated nutmeg.
Chi Chi: vodka in place of rum.
Miami Vice: half Piña Colada and half Strawberry Daiquiri, layered in one glass.
Dark Rum Float: pour 15ml of dark rum over the finished drink.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is in a Piña Colada?

A Piña Colada is made with 50ml (1.75 oz) white rum, 30ml (1 oz) cream of coconut and 50ml (1.75 oz) pineapple juice. It is served in a hurricane glass.

How strong is a Piña Colada?

Made to this recipe, a Piña Colada is about 12% ABV and contains roughly 16 g of pure alcohol. That is about 1.1 US standard drinks, 1.6 Australian standard drinks or 2.0 UK units. It has around 255 calories per serving.

What is the difference between cream of coconut, coconut cream and coconut milk?

Cream of coconut, such as Coco López, is sweetened and thick. Coconut cream and coconut milk are unsweetened. If you use either of those, add 15 to 20ml of sugar syrup.

Should a Piña Colada be blended or shaken?

Both are correct. Blended is the classic resort style. Shaken with ice and strained over crushed ice gives a lighter, less diluted drink.

What is the best rum for a Piña Colada?

A light Puerto Rican style white rum such as Bacardi. A float of dark rum on top adds depth.

Where was the Piña Colada invented?

In San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Caribe Hilton credits its bartender Ramón "Monchito" Marrero with creating it in 1954.

Drink responsibly. The legal drinking age in India varies by state, from 18 to 25. Alcohol content shown is an estimate and changes with ice, dilution and the strength of the bottle you use. We do not sell alcohol.

About the Author

Shivam Sharma

I am the founder and editor of The Spirit Atlas. With a deep appreciation for fine spirits, I built this platform to be the most helpful and honest spirits guide for Indian readers — covering everything from Scotch and Indian single malts to rum, gin and tequila, along with prices across every major Indian state. My goal is simple: to make the world of spirits a little more approachable for everyone.

Last updated: October 2026