Nothing screams summer more than a delicious frozen cocktail. They double as a refreshing drink and a fun, new recipe to try out at home. With that being said, have you ever been curious about where some of these famous cocktails originate? Here is a rundown of the history behind some of our favorite frozen cocktails.
Pina Colada
The Pina Colada originated in Puerto Rico. While other individuals claim they’re responsible for the creation of the cocktail, the most popular origin story revolves around a head bartender at the Caribe Hilton in the city of San Juan in the 1950s. This person was none other than Ramón “Monchito” Marrero. He perfectly blended a combination of pineapple and coconut to create a refreshing drink that was originally served without alcohol. Later on, of course, genuine Puerto Rican rum would become the staple ingredient in the fruity cocktail.
Daiquiri
We all know Daiquiris as the ultimate, sweet cocktail. However, its roots are deeply embedded in the past. The drink was established by an American engineer who lived in Cuba after the Spanish-American War. In fact, the name of this cocktail actually comes from a port town in which the U.S. first invaded Cuba during the Spanish-American War. The rum-lime-sugar drink most likely existed well before the coining of the name due to the abundance of those specific ingredients. Regardless, it’s now enjoyed all over the world, and different fruits are blended in to create the perfect signature drink.
Rum Runner
The most popular origin story of the rum runner entails that the cocktail was created at the Holiday Isle Tiki Bar in Islamorada, Florida during the 1950s. It has been said that the drink was specifically concocted as a result of the bar having an excess of alcohol that needed to be moved before more was to arrive. It was not long before some of those liqueurs were mixed together to create what we know today as the Rum Runner. Another fun fact is that it got its name after the original rum runners, those that smuggled alcohol and inhabited the Florida Keys in the early days.
Margarita
While there are many contenders for the most famous sour cocktail, the most popular and the most common one is from Carlos “Danny” Herrera. He was said to mix up this cocktail in the 1930s at his restaurant, Rancho La Gloria, in Tijuana. It’s said that he created it for the infamous Marjorie King, who was allergic to all alcohol except tequila. Rather than serving her a typical tequila shot with lime and salt, he favored a different approach and concocted what we know today as the margarita.
Mudslide
The mudslide is said to have originated in the Cayman Islands during the 1950s. Specifically, at the Wreck Bar and Grill on the North coast of Grand Cayman Island. Surprisingly enough, the drink didn’t gain popularity in the United States until the 1980s.