Caribe Hilton, the birthplace of the orginal Piña Colada, is shaking (and stirring) things up at the brand new Caribar with a new cocktail menu that includes the evolution of the Original Piña Colada through the years. Topping off the 60th anniversary of the famed Piña Colada, the Caribe Hilton recently celebrated the official opening of the new bar and lounge.

Caribar  is designed to provide guests and locals with a destination experience that blends Puerto Rico’s influences with the resort’s history to deliver some of the most creative craft cocktails and culinary specialities on the island.

The Caribe Hilton invites you to try some of Caribar’s latest samplings, which include the evolution of the Piña Colada through the years and each drink’s insperation (recipe avaialble upon request):

·         Clear Colada (Today):  A very contemporary take on the Piña Colada, using modern culinary methods.  Rum which is fat-washed with coconut oil gives the drink a creamy and mouth coating texture, as does coconut water.  Meanwhile, clarified pineapple juice adds acidity and Caribar’s house made syrup balances this with sweetness.  We are left with a very curious drink that tastes like an extraordinarly fresh Piña Colada, yet is clear and without froth; just a smooth velvety texture. 

·         The Colada Nueva (1990s):  This complex take on the Piña Colada was created in the late 90s at Trailer Happiness, a new wave Tiki bar that could be held responsible for kick starting the Tiki revival.  A blend of rums, with sweet mango and tart passion fruit adding extra fruitiness and complexity to the typical Piña Colada ingredients. 

·         Painkiller (1970s):  Created in 1971 by George and Marie Myrick at the Soggy Dollar Bar on the British Virgin Islands, this Tiki classic add orange to the rum-pineapple-coconut combination of the Piña Colada for a citrusy twist and uses the distinctively punchy Navy rum Pusser’s. 

·         The Original Piña Colada (1950s & 60s):  A likely adaptation of the Caribe’s signature drink of the time, the “Welcome Caribe Hilton Cocktail” and the popular Piña Fria (white Puerto Rican rum blended with sugar and pressed pineapple),  using the newly release and convenient Coco Lopez.   **The Poco Piña Colada, a half-size version of the original recipe is also available.

Caribe Hilton made history in 1949 when it became the first Hilton hotel outside the Continental U.S.  In 1954, it made history again, when it became the birthplace of the piña colada, thanks to then bartender Ramón “Monchito” Marrero and his creation.  Sixty years later, Caribe Hilton is writing a new page in history with the opening of Caribar.

For a peek of the new Caribar or to book the Caribar Lounge package, which includes accommodation starting at US$204* per night, two welcome piña coladas and one appetizer per stay, visit caribarsanjuan.com