Sweet, fruity and tropical, the Bahamian Goombay Smash cocktail is the perfect sipper for an island getaway.
I have to admit, I got a little overexcited when I glanced at the name of tonight’s cocktail. Immediately, images of colorful mushrooms, glowing and flashing stars, and two plumbers named Mario and Luigi saving a princess from a fire-breathing dragon/turtle thingy named Bowser all filled my head. And even though at the end of every level we were informed that said princess was in another castle, we kept coming back for more. And I seriously thought today’s recipe was an alcoholic ode to squashing on Goombas and smashing floating brick formations whilst doing so.
Turns out I didn’t look close enough at this mixed drink’s moniker, and as a result, very wrongly assumed it was somehow related to those sentient shiitake-like video game enemies we all grew up digitally jumping on. No, the Goombay Smash has absolutely nothing to do with the Super Mario Bros. or Nintendo, but a lot to do with relaxing by the beach and taking in the warmth of the Caribbean sun.
The Goombay Smash was invented in the 1960s by “Miss Emily”, aka Emily Cooper, at the Blue Bee Bar on Green Turtle Cay in the Bahamas. The original mixture was, and has always been, a closely guarded secret. Because of this, many different variations and versions of the drink exist. Named for a style of Bahamian music and dancing, it is said that Miss Emily herself didn’t imbibe alcohol, and was also allergic to pineapple.
Seeing as how delicious the Goombay Smash is, Miss Emily made a pretty good guess when she first mixed it together, never having one herself.
What is the best rum to use in a Goombay Smash?
You’ll need both dark and coconut rums to mix up a proper Goombay Smash for yourself. The tropical infusions from both will meld nicely into each other, creating a spirit combination that balances perfectly with the pineapple, orange and lime juices present in this cocktail. Some brands to consider are Myers’s, Plantation and Kraken for the dark, and Don Q, Malibu, Siesta Key and Kōloa for the coconut.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce dark rum
- 1 ounce coconut rum
- 1 1/2 ounces pineapple juice
- 1 ounce orange juice
- 1/2 ounce apricot brandy
- 1/4 ounce lime juice
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Fresh pineapple wedge and orange slice for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the dark rum, coconut rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, apricot brandy, and lime juice to the shaker.
- Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds, until the outside of the shaker is well chilled. Strain the mixture into a highball or hurricane glass filled with fresh ice.
- Add a couple of dashes of Angostura bitters on top. Garnish with a fresh pineapple wedge and an orange slice.
Nutrition
What glassware and garnish are used?
Fill a highball or hurricane glass with ice, pour your Goombay in and drop a few dashes of bitters on top. Garnish the rim with a fresh slice of orange and pineapple. Have a mini cocktail umbrella? Pop that in as well.
What is the best choice for apricot brandy?
Some apricot brandy that is available is closer to a liqueur, so when choosing what you’ll use in this recipe, keep that in mind. Some good options available are DeKuyper, Ararat and R. Jelínek.
Similar cocktails to the Goombay Smash
Looking for a little impromptu island getaway, an escape for your mind from the stresses of everyday modern life? Can’t afford the plane ticket or get time off from work? Don’t worry about a thing. A little cocktail break could be all you need, and here are a few tropically infused libations that’ll take you away to warmer, oceanic locales.
- Rum Punch – A Caribbean rum-filled classic.
- Yellow Bird – Herbal and citrusy, this golden beverage is another island favorite.
- Painkiller – Sip your woes away with this fruity, rum-based and coconut-tinged tipple.
- Bahama Mama – A popular cocktail that is just as much fun to say as it is to drink.
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