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Pina Colada (Difford's recipe)

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (167)
Pina Colada (Difford's recipe) image
Measurements in:
Serves:
1
Ingredients
2 fl oz Light gold rum (1-3 year old molasses column)
1⁄3 fl oz Agricole blanc/cane juice rhum (unaged)
1⁄3 fl oz Monin Pineapple Syrup
2 2⁄3 fl oz Pineapple juice
1⁄2 fl oz Lime juice (freshly squeezed)
2⁄3 fl oz Cream of coconut (e.g. Coco Lopez, Re'al etc.)
4 drop Saline solution (20g sea salt to 80g water) or merest pinch of s (optional)
1⁄4 fl oz Whipping cream (chilled)
1⁄4 barspoon Xanthan gum (E415) (optional)

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

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How to make

Glassware

Serve in a Poco grande

Prepare

  1. Select and pre-chill a POCO GRANDE GLASS.
  2. Prepare garnish of pineapple wedge and Luxardo Maraschino Cherry.

Method

  1. DRY BLEND (without ice) first 7 ingredients on a slow setting and add cream and then Xanthan while continuing to blend.
  2. Add 7oz scoop of crushed ice and BLEND some more.
  3. POUR into chilled glass.

Garnish

  1. Garnish with pineapple wedge on rim skewered with maraschino cherry.
  2. Serve with a straw.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Health & Nutrition

Alcohol content:

  • 1.6 standard drinks
  • 12.56% alc./vol. (25.13° proof)
  • 22.1 grams of pure alcohol

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

  • Whipping cream — Dairy

Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

History

Recipe by yours truly. (Reformulated 8 May 2026.)
See: Piña Colada's story and history.

More cocktails by Simon Difford

Review

A splash of agricole rum adds flavoursome funk, lime adds a citrusy bite, while a splash of fresh cream adds indulgent creaminess to this Piña Colada.

Cocktail of the day:

27th June 2026 is International Pineapple Day

Variations/similar cocktails

Piña Colada (Puerto Rican style)
Piña Colada (Cuban style)
Champagne Piña Colada
Temperance Piña Colada

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$1.53 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 12.5 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


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Gallery

Comments & Discussion

Aleksey Savkin Premium Member
I love this version very much!
Was not able to find pineapple syrup, so made it myself: 1 to 1.
Also, added 1 part Malibu. I think it adds a kick.
score: 1
[removed]
Comment removed
Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member
Thanks, Manuela. It's a cocktail i need to reshoot.
score: 1
Juniper Lately
The only reason I wish I hadn’t tried this recipe is that it’s more complicated than the recipe I was using… but it’s SO GOOD. Tolerates substitutions well. However, do not under any circumstances skip the umbrella! (It’s 32°C here in Canada today - feels like 41° with the humidity🥵 This PC is helping immensely!)
score: 3
Sean Anderson
Does anyone happen to know if Monin Coconut Syrup is a good substitute for Coco Lopez?
score: 1
Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member
Coco Lopex is far more concentrated and sweeter. Hence, you'd need to use more Monin Coconut.
score: 1
Matt Premium Member
Pineapple-forward compared to typical pina colada recipe, which are much more heavy on the coconut - I prefer this variant. The coconut is subtle, the half-n-half adds a foamy head but without becoming unctuous. Sweet pineapple juice is the dominant note, the rum and cachaca don't stand out (I wonder if using the cachaca helps the booze hide behind the pineapple.) Excellent for pineapple fans.
score: 1
John Hinojos Premium Member
Have stayed away from Pina Coladas as I always find them overly sweet. This was great. A little on the sweet side, but with wonderful balance between the pineapple and coconut. Single cream added a nice frothy head without disturbing the balance of the cocktail.
score: 1
Zach Schwartz
What constitutes a “half scoop” of ice?
score: 1
Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member
Please click "measures and measuring" under the recipe above. The page this link takes you to explains measures, including the size of the scoop I use for crushed ice.
score: 4
Simon Sedgley Premium Member
Just smash with a wooden mallet three regular sized ice cubes in a Lewis Ice Bag.
score: 1
STUART WHITEHOUSE
Replaced the Cachaça with Licor 43... absolutely perfect balance.
score: 4
Sarah Kennedy
Made this but swapped in Plantation Pineapple Rum instead of the light rum and Difford’s Falernum instead of the cachaça. This is my new favourite and friends that have tried it also enjoyed.
score: 7
Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member
Sounds delicious. I look forward to trying you recipe.
score: 4
Simon Sedgley Premium Member
Great tip...thanks. But why swap out the Cachaca? In our case, simply adding 10ml Falernum made it the more the merrier. Cheers.
score: 2

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Difford’s Shop logo
$1.53 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 12.5 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


Orders are processed by a licensed Fulproof retailer. The buy now button is added simply for convenience.

Checkout

* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.

Visit Difford’s Shop USA

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