What do Venice, Manhattan, and Puerto Rico all have in common? All three of these diverse destinations are the legendary birthplaces of iconic cocktails. Below, we’ve rounded up the delectable origin stories of the Bellini cocktail, the Bloody Mary, and the Piña Colada.
The Bellini Cocktail – Harry's Bar in Venice, Italy
The Bellini was first concocted between 1934 and 1948 by Giuseppe Cipriani, founder of Harry's Bar in Venice, Italy. After mixing Prosecco and peach puree, the resulting unique pink hue reminded him of a painting by 15th-century Venetian artist Giovanni Bellini, and thus, the Bellini was born. The cocktail was a seasonal specialty at Harry's Bar – frequented by literary legends Ernest Hemingway and Truman Capote – and later became a hit at the bar's New York counterpart. Today, you can sip on this cocktail list staple at Bellini in Providence, Rhode Island (aka “Little Venice”), where the drink is perfectly crafted with the family’s signature white peach puree and – of course – Cipriani’s Mr. C Prosecco.
Bloody Mary - The St. Regis New York’s King Cole Bar
In 1934, famed barman Fernand Petiot perfected the recipe for a vodka-and-tomato juice cocktail, known as the Bloody Mary at The St. Regis New York’s King Cole Bar. Originally christened the “Bloody Mary”, the cocktail was renamed the “Red Snapper” so as not to offend the hotel’s refined clientele. After almost 90 years, the iconic Bloody Mary remains the signature cocktail of the St. Regis. Each hotel and resort in the St. Regis portfolio has crafted its own unique, locally inspired interpretation of the brand’s signature cocktail.
Piña Colada - Caribe Hilton Hotel, Puerto Rico
Caribe Hilton is the birth place of the popular tropical drink Piña Colada! Ramón “Monchito” Marrero was the creator of the Piña Colada in 1954, during his time as a bartender at the resort. After three months of experimentation, Mr. Marrero finally settled on the recipe Piña Colada, which he felt captured the true flavors of Puerto Rico. He continued to serve the beverage at the Caribe Hilton for the 35 years following its creation and was rewarded for his efforts in 1978 when Puerto Rico named the cocktail its national drink.
