- This retro drink is poised for a comeback but in a new and improved way.
- Making it with chile-infused rum keeps the usual cloying sweetness in check.
- In the tradition of past drinks of the summer, the spicy piña colada is bright, refreshing and easy to prep.
It’s 2025 and the Piña Colada is ready for a rebrand. This fruity, slushy drink has a certain over-the-top campy association — even the presentation is so extra: It's traditionally served in a curved glass with a cocktail umbrella and a lipstick-red cherry garnish. The Piña Colada is a deeply unserious drink, the kind you indulge in at the beach club or on vacation in the tropics. You probably didn't even think about this blender cocktail until the season 3 final episode of The White Lotus, which made the retro drink feel relevant again.
Of course, frozen cocktails will always be popular in the summer. (2010s frosés say, “hi!”) These icy drinks cool you down immediately and stay cold even when the temps hit triple digits. They also spark nostalgia, tapping into a feel-good memory of childhood slushies while adding grown-up complexity. Plus, when you break out the blender, it’s an instant party. You’re blitzing up a big batch, after all. Frozen cocktails tell your brain, “Hey, it’s summertime — you’re going to stay cool and have a LOT of fun.”
Why a Spicy Piña Colada makes sense right now
When it comes to drinks, we’re in our sweet heat era: Spicy margs are more popular than ever, as seen on menus at national chain restaurants, like Chili’s, Applebee’s and Buffalo Wild Wings. Adding frozen slices of jalapeño to a glass of white wine has become a viral sensation. It’s clear that people crave a little more fire when they get their drinks on. “Flavored spirits, cocktail modifiers, and even food items that are ‘swicy’ (sweet & spicy) have been on the rise for quite some time and are continuing to gain traction,” according to Molly Horn, Chief Mixologist & Spirits Educator at Total Wine & More.
The traditional Piña Colada, usually made with pineapple juice and Coco Lopez is often too sweet and heavy. But when you add a spicy element (like our rum infused with serrano chiles), it cuts through that cloying sweetness like a hot knife through butter. “I think spicy and tropical are fantastic complementary flavors,” Horn says.“With this summer’s trending flavors including coconut, I think a Spicy Piña Colada is an excellent option for at-home summer entertaining!”
These are all the conditions for brewing a perfect (tropical) storm — and our Spicy Piña Colada is ready to make landfall. “The combination of sweet zippy pineapple, creamy coconut and spicy rum will hit that nail on the head,” exclaims Horn.
What makes a cocktail the drink of the summer?
Looking at past hits, like the Hugo Spritz, Dirty Shirley, Frosé and Aperol Spritz, these are all drinks that are breezy and fun to match the chill vibes of summer. “For me, the name of the game is something with a lot of bright, fruity and refreshing flavors with nice acidity or bitterness,” says Horn. But those aren’t the only criteria. She adds that the drink of the summer should also be super easy to throw together for these hot months and require minimal shaking or prep work. Bright, fruity and refreshing? ✅ Nice acidity? ✅ Easy to throw together? ✅✅✅ Yes, our Spicy Piña Colada checks off all the boxes.
How to make Spicy Piña Coladas
1. Add sliced serrano chiles to some white rum in a jar. Let it sit overnight, ideally, but you can get enough flavor infused in just 2 hours; strain out the serranos.
2. When you’re ready to party, add to a blender along with a few other ingredients including cream of coconut, fresh lime juice and frozen pineapple chunks.
3. Blitz until slushy then pour the drinks into traditional hurricane glasses, or go more modern with tall Collins glasses or really lean into the tropical vibes with hollowed out pineapple cups. Garnish with pineapple wedges and/or serrano chiles. Cocktail umbrellas, optional.
For the full step-by-step with measured amounts, check out our Spicy Piña Coladas recipe.
How to enjoy your drink of the summer
We served the Spicy Piña Colada at a GH event at the Hearst offices on a cold, rainy day and guests went wild for this drink. So just think of the, ahem, splash it will make at your pool party, barbecue or, really, any summer gathering.
“As a huge fan of rum, I am of the mentality that the best place to enjoy a Piña Colada is anywhere and everywhere (as long as it’s enjoyed responsibly, of course!),” says Horn. “I particularly love it as an afternoon refresher, especially on a hot day, and double especially if there is a body of water in the vicinity.” Another bonus about Piña Coladas? “They’re usually lower ABV cocktails, so they don’t hit you as hard as some other tropical rum-based cocktails,” adds Horn. But if you do want to amp up the booziness, just float a little extra rum on top of the drink. Either way, you won’t mind getting caught in the rain with one in your hand.
