I’ve always found it amusing that there’s a day for just about everything. Today happens to be National Piña Colada Day, and coincidentally enough it’s a beautiful, warm day in Edmonton, perfect for this delicious blended summer drink!

Curious about the origins of the Piña Colada, I did a bit of research and found out it was invented by a bartender in Puerto Rico. This pineapple coconut drink was so beloved that in 1978 it was named Puerto Rico’s national drink. Its name means “strained pineapple” in Spanish, referring to the freshly pressed and strained pineapple used in the drink’s preparation.

The best Piña Colada I’ve ever had was at a little roadside stand in Cuba on my way to Havana. It was incredible–made with fresh fruit and served frosty cold. Perfect for a hot beach day.

So let’s all celebrate summer and honour the great Piña Colada with this delicious recipe.

Piña Colada Recipe

Yields 1 drink

You’ll Need:

• 1.5 cups of ice
• 1/2 cup of frozen pineapple
• 2 ounces of pineapple juice
• 2 ounces of premium coconut milk
• 1.5 ounces of white rum
• Umbrella, maraschino cherry and pineapple wedge to garnish

Directions

Add all of your ingredients except for garnishes into your blender and blend until your drink is smooth. If you prefer a sweeter drink, feel free to add in one to two teaspoons of sugar as well.

Pour into a hurricane glass (or bonus points, a coconut shell) and add garnishes.

Cheers friends, hope you have an awesome weekend!