An Aruba Ariba takeover unfolded at the resort on July 1st, to commemorate the in-house creation of the iconic Aruba Ariba, in 1963.
The bartender credited with the mixology was Juan “Jocky” Tromp, who was 24 at the time.
He distinctly remembers being tasked with the creation of a tall, tropical cocktail, in fact a signature Aruban cocktail, that is sweet and stress-free to make.
As soon as he presented his original version of the new cocktail to the resort General Manager and a regional Food & Beverage executive and raised the glass for a toast saying “Ariba Aruba,” that was it, he received immediate approval for the refreshing addition to the bar menu, and its cool name.
The novel libation has been served at all the resort’s food and beverage outlets since then and growing in popularity over the past decades.
Since the summer of 2015 as a proud member of the Hilton Hotels & Resorts, the resort has actively promoted the property’s rich history interwoven with its modern beach esthetic. The Aruba Ariba, now an iconic cocktail here, practically served everywhere, is part of the Aruba Caribbean’s heritage and attests to its authentic Aruban roots.
The original recipe which was served in the lobby, as a welcome cocktail, on July 1st, calls for ½ oz Vodka, ½ oz White Rum, ¼ oz Grand Marnier, 1 oz Crème de Banana, and 5 oz fruit punch. The fruit punch recipe requires 3 oz orange juice, 2 oz pineapple Juice, ½ oz lemon juice and ¼ oz of Grenadine syrup.
Resort guests received the recipe that evening, in their room, and were invited to meet and greet the inventor who was present for the Aruba Ariba celebration. Guests were also offered the cocktail at Mira Solo Lobby Bar and Castaways Bar for $9.63, reflecting the cocktail’s birthday date.
Having worked as a bartender for 25 years, Jocky retired in 1984 and became a taxi driver. He will be celebrating his 60th anniversary in tourism next year.
The 59 years old Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino is eagerly looking forward to its own 60th anniversary which will also be celebrated in 2019.
