The Goombay Smash and Miss Emily's Blue Bee Bar
Discover the legendary Goombay Smash cocktail at Miss Emily's Blue Bee Bar in Green Turtle Cay, Bahamas. The history, the secret recipe, and how to visit this Abacos institution.
There are cocktails, and then there are cocktails that become pilgrimages. The Goombay Smash belongs to the latter category. Invented at a small wooden bar on a tiny Bahamian island, this rum-based concoction has achieved something approaching legendary status among travelers, boaters, and bartenders worldwide.
To truly understand the Goombay Smash, you must visit its birthplace: Miss Emily's Blue Bee Bar in New Plymouth, Green Turtle Cay.
The Woman Behind the Legend
Miss Emily Cooper was not trying to create a legend. She was simply running a bar in her small home in New Plymouth, serving drinks to locals and the occasional visiting sailor. Sometime in the 1960s or early 1970s (the exact date is lost to time and perhaps deliberately kept vague), she began mixing a particular combination of rums, fruit juices, and liqueurs that proved irresistible.
Word spread, as word does in the boating community. Sailors who stopped at Green Turtle Cay told other sailors. Magazine writers included the bar in articles about off-the-beaten-path Caribbean destinations. By the 1980s, Miss Emily's Blue Bee Bar had become a must-visit stop for anyone cruising the Abacos.
Miss Emily herself was as much the attraction as the drink. A warm, grandmotherly figure with a quick wit, she presided over her small establishment with a combination of hospitality and firm boundaries. She remembered repeat visitors, tolerated no rowdiness, and kept her recipe a closely guarded secret.
When Miss Emily passed away in 1997, the Bahamas lost a true original. But the bar lives on. Her daughter Violet Smith took over operations and continues to serve the Goombay Smash using her mother's original recipe. The spirit of Miss Emily remains palpable in every visit.
The Bar Itself
Miss Emily's Blue Bee Bar is not a beach bar, a tiki bar, or anything resembling the polished establishments you might find at a resort. It is a small room in a private home, painted the namesake blue, with a simple bar counter, a few stools, and walls covered in decades worth of memorabilia.
Those walls tell the story. Business cards from visitors spanning continents and decades paper every surface. Dollar bills and foreign currency, signed by their donors, hang from the ceiling and cover the walls alongside photographs, boat flags, and hand-written notes. It is a living scrapbook of everyone who has made the pilgrimage.
The atmosphere is casual to the point of almost feeling like you have wandered into someone's kitchen (which, in a sense, you have). There is no menu. You order a Goombay Smash. You might order another. When you are done, you settle up and leave a bit of yourself on the wall if you like.
The Drink: What We Know
The exact recipe for the Goombay Smash remains a secret held by the Cooper-Smith family. What is generally understood, based on decades of speculation, copycat attempts, and the occasional clue dropped by those in the know:
- Rum: Both light rum and coconut rum are believed to form the base.
- Apricot brandy: This appears to be the key ingredient that distinguishes the Goombay Smash from other rum punches.
- Pineapple juice: The primary mixer.
- Possible additions: Some believe there is a splash of orange juice, a hint of simple syrup, or a proprietary combination of bitters.
The proportions are the real secret. Countless bartenders have attempted to reverse-engineer the drink, and countless versions appear on menus throughout the Bahamas and beyond. Some are excellent in their own right. None taste quite like the original.
The drink itself is served in a simple glass, often garnished with a cherry or a slice of fruit. It is sweet but not cloying, strong but dangerously drinkable, and tastes unmistakably of the tropics. On a warm afternoon after a morning sail, it is very close to perfection.
Getting to Green Turtle Cay
Green Turtle Cay lies in the northern Abacos, separated from the mainland of Great Abaco by a stretch of the Sea of Abaco. There is no bridge. To reach the island, you have two primary options.
By ferry: The Green Turtle Ferry operates from a dock near Treasure Cay on the mainland. The crossing takes about ten minutes and runs multiple times daily. It is an affordable and straightforward option if you are staying on Great Abaco and want to make a day trip.
By private charter: If you are sailing the Abacos aboard Let's Geaux with Sail Abacos, Green Turtle Cay is a natural stop on any 7-day Abacos itinerary. Anchor in White Sound or Black Sound, dinghy to the government dock, and walk into New Plymouth. The bar is a few minutes on foot from the water.
The advantage of arriving by private catamaran is timing and flexibility. You can visit the bar in the late afternoon when the light is golden and the pace is slow, then return to your boat for dinner under the stars. No ferry schedule to catch, no rush.
New Plymouth: More Than Just the Bar
While the Goombay Smash may be your primary reason for visiting, New Plymouth deserves more than a quick drink stop. The village is one of the best-preserved Loyalist settlements in the Bahamas.
History
British Loyalists fled the newly independent United States in the 1780s, many settling in the Bahamas. They brought with them architectural traditions, religious practices, and a culture that remains visible in New Plymouth today. The narrow streets, white picket fences, and clapboard cottages would not look out of place in coastal New England, transported to the tropics.
The Albert Lowe Museum, housed in a restored colonial home, tells the story of the Abacos and its people. Exhibits cover boat-building traditions, the wrecking industry (salvaging ships that ran aground on the reefs), and daily life over the past two centuries. It is small but worthwhile.
Other Stops
Beyond Miss Emily's, New Plymouth offers a handful of other establishments worth visiting:
- The Wrecking Tree: A large tree near the harbor where, according to local tradition, residents once gathered to divide salvage from shipwrecks.
- Other restaurants and bars: The village has a few dining options serving Bahamian cuisine. Quality varies, but fresh conch is usually a safe bet.
- Local shops: Small stores sell sundries, souvenirs, and supplies. Do not expect a supermarket.
For a comprehensive look at the island, see our Green Turtle Cay guide.
Making the Most of Your Visit
A few practical considerations will help you enjoy your Goombay Smash pilgrimage.
Timing
Miss Emily's keeps somewhat irregular hours, particularly in the off-season. Generally, the bar opens in the late morning or early afternoon and stays open until early evening. During peak season (winter and spring), hours tend to be more consistent. Calling ahead or asking locally is wise if your schedule is tight.
Cash
Bring cash. This is a small, old-fashioned bar. Credit cards may or may not be accepted, and the nearest ATM is... not close.
Pace Yourself
The Goombay Smash is stronger than it tastes. The sweetness of the pineapple and coconut masks a significant amount of rum. Many a visitor has underestimated the drink and found themselves significantly more relaxed than intended. If you are returning to a boat, pace yourself accordingly.
Contribute to the Walls
Bringing a business card, a small flag from your home yacht club, or a signed dollar bill to add to the collection is part of the tradition. It connects you to the decades of visitors who came before.
The Goombay Smash Beyond Miss Emily's
The drink's fame has spread far beyond Green Turtle Cay. Versions of the Goombay Smash appear on menus throughout the Bahamas, from Nassau resorts to beach bars on Exuma. Some are faithful approximations; others bear little resemblance to the original beyond the name.
If you want to attempt your own version at home, here is a starting point based on common interpretations:
One Possible Goombay Smash (Not the Official Recipe)
- 1 oz light rum
- 1 oz coconut rum
- 0.5 oz apricot brandy
- 4 oz pineapple juice
- Splash of orange juice (optional)
- Garnish with cherry and orange slice
Shake with ice and strain into a glass. Adjust proportions to taste.
Will it taste exactly like what you get at Miss Emily's? No. But it will remind you of that afternoon in New Plymouth, and that has value.
Why It Matters
In an age of craft cocktail bars and molecular mixology, the Goombay Smash stands as a reminder that sometimes the best drinks come from the simplest places. Miss Emily was not a trained bartender. She was a Bahamian woman running a small business out of her home, serving drinks that made people happy.
The Goombay Smash is not about technique or rare ingredients. It is about place, personality, and the accumulated meaning of thousands of visitors over decades. It is about sailing into a quiet harbor, walking up a dusty lane, stepping into a small blue room, and tasting something that connects you to everyone who came before.
That is worth the trip.
Include Miss Emily's in Your Abacos Charter
A stop at Green Turtle Cay fits naturally into almost any Sail Abacos itinerary. Whether you sail north from Marsh Harbour on a 5-day trip or build the island into a full week-long adventure, Capt. Ron knows these waters intimately and can time your arrival for the perfect late-afternoon Goombay Smash.
Contact us to start planning your charter. The blue bee is waiting.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is in a Goombay Smash?
- The original recipe is a secret, but it is generally understood to contain light rum, coconut rum, apricot brandy, and pineapple juice. Variations exist, but nothing tastes quite like the original at Miss Emily's.
- Is Miss Emily's Blue Bee Bar still open?
- Yes. After Miss Emily Cooper passed away in 1997, her daughter Violet took over the bar and continues to serve the legendary cocktail using her mother's original recipe.
- How do you get to Miss Emily's Blue Bee Bar?
- Miss Emily's is located in New Plymouth on Green Turtle Cay. You can reach Green Turtle Cay by ferry from the Abaco mainland or by private charter. The bar is a short walk from the government dock.
- Why is the Goombay Smash so famous?
- The combination of a perfectly balanced tropical cocktail, Miss Emily's charismatic personality, and the unique atmosphere of the Blue Bee Bar turned a simple rum drink into a Bahamas legend over decades.
- What are the hours at Miss Emily's Blue Bee Bar?
- Hours can be irregular and depend on the season. Generally, the bar opens in the late morning or early afternoon and stays open until evening. It is best to check locally or plan flexibility into your visit.
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