Piña Colada

The Malibu Piña Colada is smooth, sweet and creamy. It has a refreshing and citrusy taste with the rich creaminess of coconut, tangy sweetness of fresh pineapple and Malibu Original white rum with coconut flavor for a burst of tropical taste.

While the classic Piña Colada recipe calls for a traditional white rum, we find that Malibu Original adds another dimension of taste with its smooth coconut flavor and sweetness that pairs perfectly with pineapple. Since it also has a lower ABV, Malibu also gives the cocktail a smoother and lighter taste. If you prefer your Piña Colada a little less sweet or less coconutty, we suggest replacing half of the Malibu Original in the recipe with another white rum, or simply add more lime juice.

Of course! For a stronger kick in your Piña Colada, our recommendation is reducing the quantity of Malibu Original by half and substituting the other half with your favorite white rum.

Definitely! We’ve experimented with a few ways to reduce the sweetness of your Piña Colada, and found the following work best. You can replace half the amount of Malibu Original in the recipe with another white rum. You can add a splash of acidity like lime or lemon juice to balance out the sweetness and add some more tangy flavor. Or you can try switching to an unsweetened coconut cream. Either one works for us.

We say whichever glass you like! As long as it fits all the deliciousness of your Piña Colada in it. Some of the classics include: highball glass, larger lowball glass or a wine glass. But our favorite is the hurricane glass. Its large size allows plenty of room for the cocktail, plus ice and garnishes, while the flared shape showcases the drink’s creamy, frothy texture.

You can, but we don’t recommend it since it changes the texture. We suggest using cream of coconut since it’s thicker and richer, giving the Piña Colada its signature creamy, indulgent texture. Coconut milk is thinner, so the drink will be lighter and less creamy. But if it’s all you have at home, go for it!

 There are a couple of differences. Cream of coconut contains added sugar, which makes it sweeter. Since our Piña Colada recipe is intended to be sweet, we suggest using cream of coconut. It also doesn’t make the Piña Colada split as easily as using coconut cream, which is thicker and unsweetened.

 A common misconception is you can only make cocktails using pro tools. But actually, when we’re making cocktails over at a friend’s place who may not have tools, we simply use existing items around their kitchen, which also do the job just fine. For example, If you don’t have a shaker, you can use a mason jar or any large jar. As long it has a tight-fitting lid so you don’t spill any of the liquid when shaking.

Don’t have a strainer? You can use one of the following instead. A slotted spoon as you pour to keep the ice inside. The lid of your jar cover to block the ice while pouring. Or a fine-mesh sieve or a small kitchen strainer you can pour the drink through. Pretty much anything to keep the ice out when pouring.

We recommend shaking for approx. 8-12 seconds to perfectly cool the drink and avoid ice dilution. We found that shaking it for longer causes the ingredients to separate, which can ruin the creamy and smooth texture of your Piña Colada.

Blend or shake. The age-old question of Piña Colada recipes. Neither is wrong. We like the shake because it’s easier to make and gives it a creamy, frothy texture. If you want to blend, simply replace half the pineapple juice with chunks of fresh or frozen pineapple. Pulse blend for 15 seconds and then strain the liquid into your glass. Or you can check out our favorite Frozen Piña Colada recipe.

Yes, yes and yes! You can choose whichever one you like. We prefer fresh pineapple juice for an authentic and tangier flavor balance. Remember, some brands and options may be sweeter than others, but so are people’s taste preferences. Find what works best for you!

It’s simple. To make fresh pineapple juice, just cut up chunks of fresh or frozen pineapple and place them in either a centrifuge juicer or blend them in a blender. Then strain the juice into a jar, ready to use.

For sure! If you’re blending or juicing, simply follow the instructions above. If you’re shaking, then simply muddle the pineapple chunks in a jar and fine-strain into the final drink.

Pineapple juice is acidic, so it naturally separates the ingredients if the drink is left sitting for too long. We also found that if you shake the Piña Colada for too long, it can cause the ingredients to separate. That’s why we always recommend serving the Piña Colada immediately, or you can give it a quick stir to remix the ingredients before serving.

There could be a few reasons why. Using coconut milk instead of cream of coconut will give it a lighter texture. If it’s over shaken, it can create too much ice dilution. If it’s left too long, the ice could melt. Or there could be too much pineapple juice. We suggest following the instructions and recipe as close as possible to avoid this.

If the pineapple is old or bad, it can give a bitter taste. Also, if other ingredients have been added to the recipe, they could upset the balance of flavors. We recommend always checking the freshness of the ingredients used.

The perfect Piña Colada texture is smooth, light and creamy. But it shouldn’t be overly creamy or heavy. If it is, then we suggest adjusting the amount of pineapple juice to give it a balanced texture.

We suggest you garnish with ingredients you have in the drink. A pineapple wedge, pineapple leaves, and coconut shavings are ideal. The amount depends how flamboyant you want your Piña Colada to look. If you’re feeling adventurous, why not try a whole cherry as well for some added flair.

Yes, we’ve got you! We’ve created a slushie variation of this recipe called the Frozen Piña Colada with juicy pineapple, Malibu Original and cream of coconut with lime juice, that’s perfect for any hot and sunny occasion. Here’s our full recipe.

Yes. Our Piña Colada recipe is made with Malibu Original, which has an ABV of 21%. This is less than a regular white rum, giving this cocktail a smooth coconutty taste.

Of course! The Virgin Piña Colada / Piña Colada Mocktail is the perfect way to enjoy a sunny afternoon. Made with juicy pineapple and condensed milk, it’s full of tropical sweetness, without any alcohol. Here’s our best Virgin Piña Colada recipe.