The story
Puerto Ricans mixed rum with pineapple long before, and a folk tale even credits the pirate Roberto Cofresí. The modern drink became possible in 1954, when a university professor in San Juan patented Coco López cream of coconut. That same year, according to the Caribe Hilton, its bartender Ramón 'Monchito' Marrero spent three months perfecting a frosty blend of rum, coconut cream and pineapple juice. Barrachina, a restaurant in Old San Juan, instead credits its Spanish bartender Ramón Portas Mingot in 1963. Either way it is a San Juan creation, Puerto Rico made it its official drink in 1978, and a 1979 pop song carried it worldwide.
Rival claims
Caribe Hilton (1954, Ramón Marrero) vs Barrachina restaurant in Old San Juan (1963, Ramón Portas Mingot); both are in San Juan.
Also known as pina colada, piña colada cocktail.
On the Meridish menu
Piña colada was the aperitif course on menu No. 27 on October 27, 2026. Its clue in the game, which hints at the place without naming it:
Rum, coconut cream and pineapple juice, blended frosty. A beachfront hotel bar here says it made the first in 1954; a restaurant in the old town claims 1963.
In Meridish, every dish is pinned to the town or city most widely credited with creating it. A guess within 25 km scores all 100 points. How scoring works.
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pi%C3%B1a_colada
- stories.hilton.com/hilton-history/the-birthplace-of-the-pia-colada
Food history is often disputed. Think we've pinned it in the wrong place? Tell us at hello@meridish.com, ideally with a source.
