The Pina Colada; a feel-good glass of retro deliciousness - is a long-standing cocktail on the UK’s TOP 10 list. There are usually some seasonal fluctuations in terms of how popular Pina Coladas are - it tends to slip down lower in the TOP 10 come winter, and reaches a peak during summer. Currently, according to CGA, Pina Colada holds 4.3% of the total on-trade cocktail sales (total quarterly cocktail sales have reached £660m last quarter).
This summer, people in the UK have been looking for a quick “escape” after two years of less travel and restrictions and this article is all about finding ways to excite and delight your guests with simple and fun twists on this classic.
Pina Coladas are trending
Looking at research data, from the past 12 months in the UK, Google searches for “Pina Coladas” have had a number of peaks and small dips but overall interest over time has increased.
Caption: “Pina Colada Google search volume in the UK 25 July 2021- 25 July 2022”
We also found a drinks report by the UK’s supermarket chain Waitrose, that revealed searches for “Pina Colada” on their website had increased by 40% since last year, confirming the rise in consumer demand for Pina Colada (Waitrose Food and Drink Report 21-22). Although this data refers to the off-trade consumers, it also provides a glimpse at how important it is to serve this drink from behind the bar too.
Having recognised the current Pina Colada trend, we’ve decided to jump on it and are sharing our 5 favorite twists to the humble yet iconic Pina Colada so you can make the most of the increasing demand in your bar. Include them as part of your offering and encourage your customers to try those signature serves instead (or in addition to) the classic Pina Colada. Keep them on the menu for a set period, and gather feedback by talking to your guests and staff to find out which of the twists is most loved.
Let’s take a look at the twists!
5 Creative Riffs On A Pina Colada
Painkiller
This rich and fruity cocktail creates holiday vibes by bringing the tropics right into your glass. It was created in the 1970’s at the Soggy Dollar Bar in the British Virgin Islands (British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean). Trademarked by Pusser’s later in the 80’s, Painkiller must be made with Pusser’s rum when it appears on bar menus.
50 ml Pussers rum
35 ml FUNKIN COCKTAILS Coconut Purée
15 ml FUNKIN COCKTAILS Pure Pour Lime
50 ml Pineapple Juice
25 ml Orange Juice
Method: Shake and strain into a hurricane glass over ice and grate fresh nutmeg on top. Garnish with a wedge of orange or a wheel of FUNKIN COCKTAILS Dehydrated Orange Wheels.
Miami Vice
A combination of blended Pina Colada and Strawberry Daiquiri IN ONE GLASS!!!
Evoking Miami vibes, this tropical drink has typically been found in beach bars and nightclubs. The absolute pinnacle of indulgence, luckily we have the perfect recipe.
Pina Colada
50 ml Rum
25 ml FUNKIN COCKTAILS Pure Pour Lime
15 ml FUNKIN COCKTAILS Sugar Cane Syrup
35 ml FUNKIN COCKTAILS Coconut Purée
50 ml Pineapple Juice
Strawberry Daiquiri
50 ml Rum
25 ml FUNKIN COCKTAILS Pure Pour Lime
15 ml FUNKIN COCKTAILS Sugar Cane Syrup
Method: Blend these 2 cocktails with a scoop of ice each in 2 separate batches. Pour Pina Colada slush to the bottom of the glass and then proceed to pour Strawberry Daiquiri slush on top. Garnish with a little bit of lime.
Strawberry Colada
This twist plays on the classic strawberries and cream combo to make a refreshingly sweet tipple.
50 ml Rum
25 ml FUNKIN COCKTAILS Pure Pour Lime
15 ml FUNKIN COCKTAILS Sugar Cane Syrup
25 ml FUNKIN COCKTAILS Coconut Purée
25 ml FUNKIN COCKTAILS Strawberry Purée
50 ml Pineapple Juice
Method: Shake all the ingredients and serve in a hurricane glass or a highball over crushed ice. Garnish with strawberries and a wheel of lime.
Champagne Pina Colada
Originated from East London’s Coupette bar. This is the classic Pina Colada, zhuzhed up with Rhum Agricole and lifted to high heavens with a touch of Champagne. Totally iconic and utterly delicious. Worth recreating in your bar. Here’s our twist on it.
35 ml Bacardi Carta Blanca
15 ml Clement Rhum Agricole
50 ml Pineapple Juice
50 ml FUNKIN COCKTAILS Coconut Purée
15 ml FUNKIN COCKTAILS Sugar Cane Syrup
50 ml Champagne (or alternatively, Cava)
Method: Shake all the ingredients, bar the Champagne. Serve in a highball over cubed ice. Top up with Champagne, stir and garnish with toasted coconut flakes.
Vodka Pina Colada AKA Chi-Chi
If you’re trying to appeal to your vodka-drinking guests, this is a lovely twist on the classic to appeal to a wider audience. Chi-Chi is heart-stoppingly good and enables your team to serve a brand new-looking cocktail with little development behind the process.
50 ml Vodka
25 ml FUNKIN COCKTAILS Pure Pour Lime
15 ml FUNKIN COCKTAILS Vanilla Syrup
35 ml FUNKIN COCKTAILS Coconut Purée
50 ml Pineapple Juice
Method: Shake all the ingredients and serve in a hurricane glass or a highball over crushed ice. Garnish with pineapple and strawberries.
If you want to know more about creating twists on classic cocktails, head to our “Create Twists On Classic Cocktails” post.
