Malibu Piña Colada

Ingredients

50 ml Malibu Original

50 ml Pineapple Juice

25 ml Cream of Coconut

12.5 ml Lime Juice (optional)

Garnish: Pineapple Slice

Ice

1 part Malibu Original

1 part Pineapple Juice

0.5 parts Cream of Coconut

0.25 parts Lime Juice (optional)

Garnish: Pineapple Slice

Ice

2 oz Malibu Original

2 oz Pineapple Juice

1 oz Cream of Coconut

0.5 oz Lime Juice (optional)

Garnish: Pineapple Slice

Ice

Instructions

Fill a shaker with ice cubes
Pour in Malibu Original, pineapple juice, cream of coconut and lime juice (optional)
Shake for 8-12 seconds and strain into a hurricane glass with ice
Garnish with a pineapple slice and enjoy!

Tools you’ll need

Shaker

You need this for mixing and chilling the ingredients with ice. If you don’t have one, don’t stress, we’re certain you have something in your kitchen cupboards that will work just as well. We suggest using a mason jar, or any jar with a lid that’s tight-fitting. As long as it doesn’t spill when you shake it.

Jigger or Measuring Tool

This is for measuring the exact amounts of Malibu Original, pineapple juice, and cream of coconut. Here’s our tip, you can also use a shot glass or a tablespoon for the measurements.

Strainer

For straining your drink into the glass, ensuring a smooth texture by removing the ice. Don’t have a strainer? You can use a slotted spoon, a shaker lid or cover, or even a fine-mesh sieve or small kitchen strainer. Basically anything that you can hold over the shaker to keep the ice out of the drink while letting the liquid flow through it.

Knife and Cutting Board

To slice the pineapple wedge for garnish. Also, if you’re using any of the alternative methods of preparing the drink with pineapple wedges and blending. Just be careful and make sure the board’s not wet when cutting.

Glass

For serving the Piña Colada, we love using the classic hurricane glass. We find it’s big enough to fit the drink, ice and garnishes, with a flared shape that shows off the creamy, frothy texture. But it’s really up to you. Feel free to experiment and find the perfect glass for the occasion. Your drink, your choice!

How to make the perfect Piña Colada

OUR TIPS FOR MAKING THE PĨNA COLADA AT HOME

1. Shake hard for 8-12 seconds

Our Piña Colada recipe is shaken. We tried various shaking times for you and found that 8-12 seconds is the ideal amount to get that famous chilled, smooth and frothy texture. Be sure not to shake for too long to avoid ice dilution. When we were testing, this caused our Piña Colada to start to separate and it became watered down.

2. Serve immediately

We recommend serving your Piña Colada right after you’ve strained it into the glass and garnished it. This is when it’s the most appealing and so the ice doesn’t melt, making the ingredients separate. If it’s unavoidable, we suggest giving it a quick stir before serving for that smooth finish.

3. Use fresh pineapple juice

While you can use any kind of pineapple juice you like, we strongly suggest using fresh pineapple juice in your Piña Colada for an authentic flavour kick. It’s also less sweet than other varieties. To make your own, simply place some fresh or frozen pineapple chunks into a centrifuge juicer or blender and then strain into a jar.

4. Chill ingredients before mixing

The Piña Colada is best enjoyed frosty and chilled. This usually comes from the shaking with ice, but since it’s a shorter shake than other cocktails, we recommend chilling your ingredients beforehand. This ensures deliciousness in every sip. Our secret tip is to also chill your hurricane glass before serving.

5. Adjust the sweetness to your taste

Our Piña Colada recipe is supposed to be sweet and creamy. But every taste is different. So we say, make your Piña Colada as sweet (or not) as you like. Personally, we love a sweet cocktail, but we played around with some alternatives for you who may not like it as sweet as us, and we found that adding some lime juice balanced out the sweetness with its acidity. You can also halve the amount of Malibu and add half of another white rum. Or try switching to coconut cream, since it doesn’t contain any sugar.

Make a larger batch for friends

If you’re hosting a larger party or group of friends, we find that it’s easier to make a batch of Piña Coladas in a blender instead of shaking individual drinks. In this case, we suggest using our recipe below:

Ingredients (Serves 4):

200 ml Malibu Original
200 ml Pineapple Juice
100 ml Cream of Coconut
50 ml Lime Juice (Optional)
Garnish: Pineapple Slices

How to make it: Throw all ingredients into a blender without ice. Blend, strain and pour into a hurricane or highball glasses filled with ice. Garnish each drink with pineapple slices.

Malibu Pina Colada cocktail on a light blue sky

Two Malibu Pina Colada cocktails with a bottle of Malibu rum in a tropical setting

Malibu Piña Colada Cocktail against a blue background

Piña Colada – A cultural icon

Let’s dive into this legendary drink’s hip and happening history. Back in the 1980s, a creative mixologist with a passion for paradise combined the smooth flavour of Malibu with the pure essence of pineapple and creamy coconut to create the perfect Piña Colada.

Fast forward to today, and this drink has become the unofficial anthem of carefree days and unforgettable nights. Whether you’re soaking up the sun at a music festival, dancing at a beach bonfire, or just chilling with friends, the Malibu Piña Colada is your passport to an instant tropical getaway.

Now, let’s talk taste – get ready for a party of flavours that’ll transport you straight to a beachside paradise. The luscious blend of Malibu Original brings a smooth kick, while the sweet notes of pineapple and the creamy coconut create a harmonious dance of flavours that’s both refreshing taste and indulgent. It’s like how you would describe a beach party in flavours, complete with the cool breeze and the sound of waves crashing!

So, grab your shades, cue the summer tunes, and make every moment feel like a beach day with the Malibu Piña Colada – this drink is your ticket to tropical adventure and sun-soaked memories.

Where did the Piña Colada come from?

The Piña Colada’s origin is a bit of a mystery. Some say it was whipped up by a cool bartender at the Caribe Hilton’s Beachcomber Bar in Puerto Rico in 1954. But hold up, there’s also another bartender in Barranquitas making similar claims, so we can’t be too sure — it’s like a tropical cocktail mystery!

How did the Piña Colada become a ’70s sensation?

Picture this: the 1970s, big hair, disco vibes, and everyone sipping on Piña Coladas. This tasty drink became the ultimate symbol of chillaxing in the tropics. People loved it for its sweet, chill taste, making it the go-to for beach lovers and resort hoppers alike.

Why is the Piña Colada Puerto Rico’s national sip?

Puerto Rico knows what’s up — the Puerto Rican government officially crowned the Piña Colada as their national drink in 1978, and it’s now a cultural icon because of its association with the island’s tropical identity.

FAQs

What can I do with my leftover ingredients?

Let’s talk zero-waste! Depending on how big or small your party is, and how much of each ingredient you use, you may be left with some additional Piña Colada ingredients. Don’t throw them away. Instead, here are some of our favourite ideas for things to do with the leftovers:

Leftover Malibu Original: We love Malibu because it’s so tasty and goes with a bunch of different cocktails. It also has a shelf life of 2 years, so you can save it for your next batch of Piña Colada making. Or check out some of our other favourite drinks you can try for your next party, like the Malibu Bay Breeze and Malibu Sunrise.

Leftover Pineapple Juice: If you haven’t tried frozen pineapple ice cubes yet, you’re in for a treat. Simply pour the leftover pineapple juice into an ice cube tray and freeze it. You can use these pineapple cubes for future cocktails or smoothies. Or check out our other Malibu and Pineapple Juice Cocktails.

Leftover Cream of Coconut: Next day brunch anyone? Cream of coconut is rich and sweet, and we think it’s a perfect dairy-free topping for pancakes, waffles, or even fruit salad. If it’s sealed properly, cream of coconut can last a few days in the fridge. So you can even use it for another batch of Piña Coladas.

Leftover Pineapple Wedge: This is easy. You can simply enjoy any extra pineapple wedges as a healthy delicious snack. Or what we like to do is grill them for a delicious caramelised, smoky treat. Grilled pineapple also works great as a dessert. Why not top it off with some of that leftover coconut cream?