When one thinks of rum, it is difficult not to invoke the romantic images of the verdant environs of the Dominican Republic and, of course, the swashbuckling adventures of hardscrabble pirates.

One might first think of clips from Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean,” or maybe the well known English pirate of yesteryear Blackbeard (a.k.a. Edward Teach). The most famous ― if one can use such a word when taking about pirates ― in the Caribbean and Latin America, however, was Roberto Cofresi.

Cofresi raided mostly U.S. ships in the waters between Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic. Today there is even a town named after him, Cofresi, near Puerto Plata in Dominican Republic. 

Dominican Ambassador to Korea Grecia Fiordalicia Pichardo hosted an “Evening of Dominican Rum,” Friday at the Alchemist Lounge, a posh night club in southern Seoul, introducing a taste of the romance of Cofresi’s pirate adventures to Korea with Cofresi rums.

The night included not only an introduction to delicious rum, but also world-class cigars, dancing and music. After all, Dominican Republic is home to merengue.

“This is a very special night because Dominicans enjoy life, and merengue is about enjoying life, and we love to share this with our Korean friends,” Pichardo said late in the evening while many envoys of the foreign diplomatic community were on the dance floor.

Representatives of Vinicola del Norte, the second biggest distillery in the Dominican Republic and the maker of Cofresi rums, did entertain a few potential Korean partners. So, the prospect that we can soon enjoy really tasty Pina Coladas with Cofresi rum appears promising.

Yes, that’s right. In addition to being a legendary Caribbean pirate, Cofresi may have also been the originator of that fruity delectable party quaff ― the Pina Colada cocktail.

The Pina Colada is claimed by a slew of cocktail aficionados, including Ramon “Monchito” Marrero of the Caribe Hilton Hotel in Puerto Rico in 1954 and Spaniard Don Ramon Portas Mingot in 1963, but we might have Cofresi himself to thank for the inebriating coconut concoction.

One story has it that Corfresi served a brew of pineapple, coconut and white rum to his crew to keep morale high. This is the first written mention of the combination of these ingredients. Perhaps Cofresi is the true progenitor of the Pina Colada, then. Besides, who doesn’t love the idea of pirates and rum?

By Philip Iglauer (ephilip2011@heraldcorp.com)