Ingredients
- 2 ounces light rum
- 1½ ounces Baileys Irish cream
- 1½ ounces pineapple juice
- ¾ ounce cream of coconut
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Pineapple wedge and cherries for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add light rum, Baileys, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into hurricane glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with pineapple wedge and cherries.
Variations and Substitutions
The Baileys piña colada can be as over the top or as simple as you'd like, but don't worry if you're short on a few ingredients; there's room to swap things around.
- Feel free to skip the cream of coconut and add an extra half ounce of Baileys.
- Use a half-ounce less of light rum and add a half-ounce of spiced or dark rum.
- Skip the lime juice in favor of lemon juice, or skip the citrus altogether.
- To boost the coconut flavor, consider a coconut rum. You can use just coconut rum or in combination with light rum, aiming for approximately two total ounces of rum.
- If you want your piña colada a little sweeter, add a half-ounce of simple syrup.
- Try a smooth bana version of this cocktail, the BBC drink.
Garnishes
If the pineapple wedge and cherry garnish is too much for you or you need some other ideas, these options have you covered.
- Add a pineapple leaf to the existing garnish or use on its own to up the tropical vibe.
- Opt for an orange, lemon, or lime wheel, wedge, or slice.
- Pierce several whole cherries on a cocktail skewer, finishing with a citrus wheel.
- For a smaller citrus touch, garnish with a citrus ribbon, peel, or twist.
- Don't forget the non-edible garnishes: add a colorful straw or playful paper umbrella.
About the Baileys Piña Colada
Puerto Rico lays claim to the birth of the piña colada. The pirate Roberto Cofresí was the first to shake up the basis of the piña colada you know and love today. His version was simple: rum, coconut, and pineapple. He made this drink for his crew to try to boost their spirits. However, the recipe would disappear with Cofresí's death, a recipe that would be missing until the 1950s. In modern-day Puerto Rico, a hotel bartender by the name of Ramón Marrero would, once again, shake up the classic rum, coconut, and pineapple flavors from so many years ago.
Even though the standard recipe calls for coconut cream to create the creamy flavor, Baileys adds a whole new level of cream with complexity and an added bonus of booze. Don't second guess this addition; you can wow your friends and family with your new recipe. You can even keep this secret ingredient to yourself.
A Creamier Piña Colada
There are few things better than a tropical cocktail in this world. Its flavors are a burst of instant sunshine for the senses and the mind. Open the refrigerator and reach for the Baileys to make yours a truly decadent and tropical experience.
Try even more Baileys drinks or, to enjoy your Baileys in a smaller package, sip some tasty Baileys shots.
