Small-batch premium spiced rum from the Devon Rum Company.
The piña colada is one of the world’s best-loved cocktails, a creamy, frothy concoction of rum, pineapple juice, and coconut cream. The piña colada was created in Puerto Rico in the 1950s, but the identity of the bartender who first mixed up this iconic rum-based cocktail is still not certain. It quickly became such a popular drink that several bartenders claimed they had invented it. At the Caribe Hilton, one of the premier luxury hotels in the Puerto Rican capital of San Juan, it is reported that Hollywood legend Joan Crawford declared after tasting one of the hotel’s piña coladas, that it was “better than slapping Bette Davis in the face.”
A more romantic story claims that the piña colada was the brainchild of the 19th-century Puerto Rican pirate Roberto Cofresi, who was said to have boosted the morale of his crew by giving them a pick-me-up drink of white rum, pineapple juice, and coconut milk.
However, it seems likely that this modern-day tropical cocktail couldn’t have been developed until the 1954 invention of a key ingredient, Coco Lopez, a pre-made cream of coconut, which was developed by University of Puerto Rico agriculture professor Ramon Lopez-Irizarry, who blended cream from the hearts of Caribbean coconuts with natural cane sugar, very soon the island started using Coco Lopez as an integral part of their piña coladas. Coco Lopez even supplied the Caribe Hilton with blenders and hired a piano player to perform while bartenders served up complimentary piña coladas to hotel guests, according to the “Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America”.
My own first taste of this Caribbean beach cocktail was in the ’80s and feeling somewhat nostalgic I thought I would try my hand at restoring the tropical glamour of the piña colada cocktail by making this classic at home.
I recently received a bottle of small-batch premium spiced rum which is expertly and ethically crafted in Devon by the Devon Rum Company.
The Devon Rum Company was founded by David Seear, who after thirty years in the city working in recruitment decided to up sticks and head to the seaside. After conducting extensive research that showed that although once reserved as the favoured tipple of sea dogs and Cuban bartenders, rum is increasingly appreciated by a new generation of tastemakers who are flexing their taste buds in new directions. Thus, Seear set about creating a premium spiced rum that celebrates the rolling seas of the South West.
This rum is a delicious drink in itself, a tipple of all tipples. It’s bright burnt amber in colour, smooth and warmly spiced with wonderful aromas of charred orange peel, notes of caramel, hints of cardamom, and a smack of zesty peppercorn.
The Devon Rum Company’s unique blend of pot and column-stilled rum is created in close partnership with one of the world’s leading blenders and importers of traditional Caribbean rum sourced in Jamaica and Guyana. Made by mixing distillery strength nectar with soft Devon spring water to bring it down to a drinking strength of 40% ABV, it is then infused with a unique blend of aromatic spices, pepper, and citrus zest.
Unlike many alternative spiced rums, they add no vanilla, sugar or colouring and have concentrated on the quality of the base rum, a carefully crafted recipe and sourcing quality natural ingredients to deliver this delightful spirit.
Devon Rum is excellent on its own but it also great as a piña colada cocktail base. I rather like dark golden rum in my piña coladas, with the sunny, spicy flavours shining through.
I used Devon Rum Company’s golden rum, coconut milk, and fresh pineapple, however, this classic rum cocktail recipe can be adapted to your taste. You can substitute the dark rum with white rum if you prefer and coconut cream is just as good as milk. You don’t have to blend in the fresh pineapple, but I liked the extra fruity taste. It’s quick and easy to make, all you need is rum, pineapple juice, coconut milk, ice, garnish, and a blender.
The result was quite delicious…all I need now is to be transported to a beautiful sunny beach in Puerto Rico.
The delicious spiced rum from the Devon Rum Company is crafted with passion, using quality, ethically sourced products and is available to buy online for home delivery, and in select artisan shops.
- 120 ml pineapple juice
- 60 ml dark rum
- 60 ml coconut milk or cream
- A few chunks of diced fresh pineapple and a wedge to garnish
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Pulse all the ingredients together with some ice in a blender
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Pour into a highball or tall glass and garnish with pineapple.
For an alternative Spiced Rum cocktail, try this Spiced Rum Mojito recipe
Delicious!! I’m definitely trying this
This looks delicious, I didn’t knoe they make rum in Devon!
one of my favourites anyway but the spiciness gives it an extra tasty kick
This is simply awesome
This sounds delicious would love to try
I just love the ingredients but would probably add a little more rum !
I’ve never been much of a fan of Pina Colada but this version sounds a lot more interesting!
Sounds delicious and I love the idea of the spiced rum
We love Piña Colada, going away next weekend so I am going to get the ingredients for this to take with us!! Will be a nice surprise for hubby!
This sounds so delicious and a recipe I’ll be trying out for sure I love Pina Colada cocktails
This sounds refreshing. I love a good rum cocktail.
This smooth and well-rounded cask-aged rum is one of the best rums for pina coladas. A favorite among bartenders and classic cocktail enthusiasts, El Dorado is defined by hints of citrus, coconut, and vanilla.
This sounds fabulous and the addition of spiced rum would give it an interesting twist.
Absolutely love Pina Colada! Always looking at ways to spice it up!
Ooh this looks delicious! I am so into Pina Coladas now after lockdown. It just seemed to be something I started drinking. It reminds me of lovely sunny holidays a few years back.
Ooh, I need to try this, Pina Colda is my favourite cocktail.
I love the sound of spiced rum, I bet this tastes amazing
Hmmmm……..
Piña Colada is my favourite cocktail and this recipe is delicious thanks x
this would be ideal to drink in the garden on a new bench
I used to hate a Piña Colada but my hubby bought me one on holiday in Portugal a few years ago and changed my mind, now I love them, I think it was because I’d only tasted a Malibu version in the past with way too much pineapple juice in it. This version sounds really yummy so I’ll be trying it out very soon, in fact as soon as I get myself a bottle of rum
This sounds delicious and perfect for the hot weather we’ve been having, to sit outside on a bench in the garden and enjoy.
A Piña Colada Cocktail is one of my all time favourite cocktails, I shall have to try it with spiced Devon Rum. It looks delicious.
I love spiced rum I never thought about using it like this.
That rum sounds gorgeous, what a lovely way to serve it!
This coctail sounds amazing. Making it with spiced rum is something I haven’t considered before in my piña colada.
Wow This looks amazing
Would be perfect for enjoying in our sunny garden and relaxing on our bench
That sounds amazing and much easier than I imagined. will be making some this weekend. Thanks!
love a good pina colada and this looks like it tastes amazing!
Perfect for the summer, and enjoying it on a beautiful bench in my garden would be the ultimate summer indulgence!!!
Pina colada is alwaysmy go to cocktail when I’m away on my holidays because it’s so refreshing!! Although I haven’t tried it with Devon Spiced Rum I’d love to try it!
This is my favourite cocktail when on holiday! This looks fantastic will have to give it a try, thank you!
So delicious!
Sounds lush
Oh wow, this sounds absolutely wonderful perfect for sitting on a bench in the garden enjoying the weather,
This sounds absolutely delicious! I love Pina Colada but have not tried it with spiced rum. Will do now. I’d like to enjoy it on a bench from Garden Benches.
This sounds amazing
Yum, this is the cocktail that I would go for! I love pineapples and I would find this refreshing.