What Is a Goombay Smash and Where Was It Invented?
Reviewed by Captain Ronald RolleThe Goombay Smash is a rum-based tropical cocktail invented in the 1960s by Miss Emily Cooper at her Blue Bee Bar on Green Turtle Cay in the Abacos. Now considered the unofficial national drink of the Bahamas, the original secret recipe remains known only to the Cooper family.
The Goombay Smash stands as one of the most beloved cocktails to emerge from the Caribbean, and its birthplace is definitively documented. Miss Emily Cooper created this iconic rum punch in the 1960s while experimenting with drink recipes at her small bar on Green Turtle Cay in the Abaco Islands.
Miss Emily's Blue Bee Bar opened in 1957 and quickly became a gathering spot for locals and visiting boaters. The bar, painted its signature blue, occupies a modest wooden building in New Plymouth settlement on Green Turtle Cay. The atmosphere remains charmingly unchanged, with walls covered in business cards and nautical memorabilia left by decades of visitors.
The exact recipe Miss Emily developed has never been shared outside the Cooper family. While countless versions exist throughout the Bahamas and beyond, the original Blue Bee Bar formula remains a closely guarded secret passed through generations. Most imitations combine coconut rum, dark rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, and a splash of apricot brandy.
Today, Miss Emily's daughter Victoria operates the Blue Bee Bar, maintaining the traditional atmosphere her mother created. Visiting the birthplace of the Goombay Smash has become a pilgrimage for cocktail enthusiasts and Bahamas travelers alike.
The drink spread throughout the Bahamas and Caribbean following its creation, appearing on bar menus from Nassau to the Exumas. But the only place to taste the original is at Miss Emily's Blue Bee Bar, still serving the authentic recipe after more than sixty years.
Key points
- Miss Emily Cooper invented the Goombay Smash in the 1960s
- The Blue Bee Bar opened in 1957 on Green Turtle Cay in the Abacos
- The original recipe has never been shared outside the Cooper family
- Daughter Victoria now operates the bar maintaining family traditions
- The drink is now served throughout the Bahamas and Caribbean
Related questions
- How do you get to Miss Emily's Blue Bee Bar?
- Take the ferry from the Treasure Cay ferry dock to Green Turtle Cay. The bar is located in New Plymouth settlement, a short walk from the ferry landing in the heart of this historic Loyalist village.
- What are the basic ingredients in a Goombay Smash?
- While the original recipe is secret, most versions combine coconut rum, dark rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, and apricot brandy. Some add a splash of grenadine or fresh lime juice.
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