Ramon “Monchito” Marrero was a Puerto Rican bartender at the Caribe Hilton Hotel, located on a 17-acre peninsula outside of San Juan. In 1954, he was asked to create a cocktail that captured the essence of the Puerto Rican island. After three months perfecting, the drink was such a hit among locals and tourists that Marrero served it for the rest of his 35-year long career. Famous Hollywood actress Joan Crawford, who was a big fan of the drink, testified that it was “better than slapping Bette Davis in the face.”