Marisa’s 3 Classic Island Cocktails: Piña Colada, Lime Daiquiri & Sangría

The silver blender whirred up big batches of piña coladas or lime daiquiris that would be pre-chilled for guests. Sometimes Mami made sangria, with lots of fruit. If it was close to Christmas, Puerto Rican eggnog or coquito—here is my sister Hillary’s delicioso recipe and here is an old-school, from-scratch version—was in order, por supuesto.

My parents owned and operated a small guest house in Santurce: El Canario, a block from the beach and down the street from Old San Juan. It was the job of everyone in our family—including my little sister Hillary and me—to help entertain los huéspedes. Several times a month, one or two roomfuls of turistas would be invited over to our place for drinks and dinner, with little notice.

First order of business for Mami and Dad: cocktails Caribeños—fast.

If my sister and I heard the blender grinding away on the bar, we knew people were coming over that night. If they were favorite return guests, they just might bring us presents. Hillary’s and my job was to pass around around trays of hors d’oeuvres and tumblers full of Puerto Rican hospitality, muy fríos. A feliz evening lay ahead.

Recently I found Mom’s handwritten recipes of her favorite El Canario cocktails. The hand-written, frayed and splashed-up index cards took me right back to childhood. These three drinks, which can be whipped up at a moment’s notice, helped make those island nights so festive and welcoming.

Ready to chill out island-style with a piña colada, lime daiquiri or pitcher of sangría?