Cocktail – Goombay Smash
Coconut rum, cachaca, apricot brandy, pineapple, lime
Date Visited – Apr 2015
Nobody goes to the Bahamas without a visit to Miss Emily’s! As a non-drinker Miss Emily did her patrons a very good service, her Goombay Smash recipe is a closely guarded secret, passed on to her daughter Violet. Green Turtle Cay is a small island in the Abacos accessed by boat from Treasure Cay. There aren’t many accommodation options, I chose to stay at the beautiful Bluff House not realising it was the other side of the island from Miss Emily’s. There are no taxis, transport is by golf cart, so I had the option of hitch-hiking or hiring a cart for $60. Encouraged by receptionist Summer I booked the cart, rum punch in hand, drink-driving is clearly an accepted norm here! I was already a little tipsy when I signed the rental agreement, making me liable for $6,000 should anything happen to it!
The next challenge, how to find my way to New Plymouth, home to Miss Emily’s. The roads aren’t in the best condition, take a wrong turn and it gets even bumpier, passing a local I was advised to follow the telephone lines. I parked up and walked through the town until I located the infamous Blue Bee Bar, with both locals and tourists sitting outside. I ordered the smash, pre-mixed and poured from a plastic bottle into a plastic cup, it’s a very simple life in the Bahamas, one I’m very envious of. I chatted to Violet about her mum, my quest, music imports (she likes Ed Sheeran) and regretted not bringing my business card to add to the wall. You can raise a toast to Miss Emily as her photo hangs behind the bar, I requested a photo with Violet and she poured me another Goombay, can’t have a photo without one in your hand! Time for dinner and not wanting to find my way back in the dark I reluctantly departed. They serve dinner at Miss Emily’s, but only in the evening. Violet recommended the conch salad, a local speciality. The journey home was a lot quicker, but I wasn’t braving the very steep slope down to the guesthouse, even if it meant a little less time to savour my balcony view!
The World Is My Cocktail 