Cocktails That Originated In The Caribbean
It’s almost impossible to imagine an island holiday without picturing yourself holding a cocktail. You may not know it, but many beloved cocktails the world over originated in the Caribbean. You could almost say that the Caribbean Islands were the original island drinking destination. We like to think all those Rum drinking pirates had something to do with it.
Mojito
This cocktail is full of minty goodness, and we have Cuba to thank for its origin story. As the story goes, the drink consisting of white rum, club soda, sugar, lime and mint was first made in the 16th century. The legend suggests that the famed explorer Sir Frances Drake brought mint and lime to Havana on his ship which, coupled with the newly booming sugar industry, inspired the invention of the drink.
Rum Swizzle
There is more to Bermuda than mystery and disappearing vessels, we can thank them for the Rum Swizzle, a cocktail consisting of Gosling’s Black Seal Rum, pineapple, orange juice, Angostura bitters, Falernum, syrup, ginger, clove, almond, and lime. While the exact origin of the cocktail is unknown, The Swizzle Inn claims to have created the drink in the 18th century. The name is derived from the sticks picked from local trees used to swizzle (mix) the contents of the drink.
Aruba Ariba
As the name would suggest, this cocktail finds its origin in Aruba, the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort and Casino, to be precise. If the story is to be believed (there are many sceptics), then the very precise origin of the cocktail was created at the hotel bar in 1963 on July 1st at exactly 11 a.m. The hotels popular drink consists of rum, vodka, pineapple juice, cranberry juice, orange juice and creme de banana, the main star of the show is the coecoei, a local indigenous plant, that gives the drink its distinct red colour.
Daiquiri
Cuba makes our list again with this popular cocktail that comes in so many flavours, it’s almost impossible to make a choice. The most alluring thing about this drink is that it is so easy to make, it can even be enjoyed at home. And as strange as it sounds, that is actually where the drink was invented, in Jennings Cox home. As far as the history of cocktails go, the story of how the Daiquiri was accidentally invented has a definitive written account. Jenning Cox ran out of alcohol at a house party in 1896, but he had rum, using what he found he added sugar and lemon and the beloved cocktail was born.
Blue Curaçao
As the name suggests, this cocktail finds its birthplace is Curacao, and it is almost a criminal offence to visit the island without indulging in one. The history of the drink is a little confusing, almost as confusing as having an orange flavoured drink that is blue. The liqueur itself did not start blue, a failed attempt to start an orange grove on the island by Spanish settlers in the 15th century, led to the discovery that orange peels make a delightful liqueur. Around the turn of the 20th century, blue drinks became all the rage and, to keep up with the fad, the producers started dying the liqueur blue, raising its popularity so much that it is now an institution.
Pina Colada
If you like Pina Coladas…. And honestly, who doesn’t enjoy a good frozen cocktail full of local island flavoured goodness? This iconic cocktail predates the song by a few decades. The cocktail consists of a modest list of ingredients; coconut cream, pineapple juice and white rum are blended together with ice to create this easy to drink delight. While the list of ingredients may feel like a worn out recording of a favourite song, the history is less known. The drink was birthed in Puerto Rico. As the story goes, bar tender Ramon Marrero was asked to create a unique cocktail for Caribe Hilton hotel in 1954. This classic is worth a try at the many bars who all claim to make the best version.
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