about snfd
Kim and Lauren are the mother-daughter team behind Something New For Dinner. Kim develops the recipes, shoots the photography and writes the posts and weekly emails to our subscribers. Lauren is the Internet marketing guru who developed and maintains our website, leads our marketing efforts, manages our social media and keeps us on track in general.
Together we have created a website devoted to providing flavorful, nutritious meals to share with family and friends. We believe communal meals are the cornerstone for nurturing healthy bodies, promoting communication and developing strong relationships. Who doesn’t enjoy a great meal with those you love?
We invite you to subscribe to our weekly email where we highlight our latest recipes and focus on seasonal topics, nutritious ingredients, cooking techniques and meal plans. Please let us know what you think by commenting and rating our recipes or writing in with any questions you have.
In addition to our website we work with brands to develop and photograph recipes and provide food and travel related content. Please contact us here to work with us.
Goombay Smash
Loading...SKILL LEVEL :
Easy and quick
If you have ever spent anytime in the Bahamas, you have run into a Goombay Smash or two, the ubiquitous cocktail of the islands. There is not a bar or restaurant in the Bahamas that doesn't offer a Goombay Smash on its menu. Invented in the 1960's by Emily Cooper of Miss Emily's Blue Bee Bar in Green Turtle Cay, the original recipe is top secret. They premix large jugs of Goombay Smashes each day before the bar opens to keep the recipe secret and to make it easy to pour large numbers of cocktails quickly. You can also purchase take-away half gallon jugs of premixed Goombay Smashes to enjoy at your leisure.
The History Behind the Goombay Smash
In researching the history behind this tropical drink I learned the Goombay Smash was conceived by Miss Emily during a dominoes game. She created the cocktail, but then had to ask her friend Brendal Stevens to taste it because she didn't drink alcohol. While I have not been to Miss Emily's Blue Bee Bar, I have met Brendal Stevens in Green Turtle Cay.
Brendal took us on a dive and snorkel outing. You would never know this man is well into his 60's.
Brendal is a world-renowned dive master who a few years ago took a group of us to dive and snorkel off a reef on the Atlantic side of Green Turtle Cay. Our group was all geared up and about to jump off of Brenda's boat and into the water when he said "Oh, one more thing. You will see a lot of sharks on this reef. Don't worry, they are just another kind of fish." Needless to say, that got our attention, but in we went and sure enough there were LOTS of sharks. I easily saw a good dozen, ranging from 4 - 8 feet in length. After my heart settled down, I realized Brendal was right, they are just fish, albeit pretty darned big fish. The good news is, that while I can't say I love swimming with sharks, the experience taught me to not be as afraid of them. Furthermore, the nice thing about swimming with sharks in the Bahamas is the water is so clear you can readily see them. Unlike swimming in California water, where sharks are there but you can't see them through the murky green water. My imagination can get the worst of me swimming in the green murk.
Click to download our free e-cookbook: 15 Recipes To Make You Look Like A Star
What is in a Goombay Smash?
The main ingredients include: orange juice, pineapple juice, apricot brandy and multiple types of rum, including coconut rum and sometimes spiced rum, also called dirty rum. In my version of a Goombay Smash, I use Cointreau instead of apricot brandy, a mix of coconut rum and amber rum and I finish it with a healthy splash of Myer's rum, because all rum drinks should finish with a splash of Myers.Barbie's Birthday Cocktail
I developed this recipe to celebrate my friend Barbara's birthday. Barb and her husband introduced us to boating in the Bahamas, and we haven't looked back since. Barb has been quite helpful in assisting me in my Bahamian cocktail research so I thought it only fitting that she have the most celebrated Bahamian cocktail for her birthday party. The nice thing about a Goombay Smash, is that it is easy to make in large quantities, so all you have to do is pour it over ice, and maybe add a float of Myer's. I provide both a recipe for a single Goombay Smash as well as a party-sized vat of Goombay Smashes that will serve 40. This party drink dispenser works well for mixing up a large batch and dispensing individual drinks. The Barbie Mermaids were in Barb's honor.What is a Goombay?
A Goombay is a goat skin Bahamian drum and a type of Bahamian music. The most renowned Goombay musician was Alphonso Higgs, better known as Blind Blake, who specialized in Calipso and Goombay music.More Tropical Drinks
Bahama Conch Rum Cocktail Pineapple Moscow Mule Tropical Sangria with Passionfruit Thai Pearl Cocktail For more on our Bahamian adventures, click here.-
This recipe was first published August 14, 2017 and updated on April 17, 2021. PrintGoombay Smash
The Goombay Smash is the ubiquitous cocktail of the Bahamas. Rum-rich and tropical fruit-forward, this thirst quencher will put you in an island mindset no matter where you are.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 Cocktail 1x
- Category: Cocktails
- Cuisine: Bahamian
Ingredients
For a single cocktail:
- 2 ounces pineapple juice
- 2 ounces orange juice
- 1/4 ounce Cointreau
- 1 ounce amber rum
- 1 ounce coconut rum
- 1 splash Myer’s rum
Optional Garnish:
- Mint leaves
- Pineapple or Orange slices
- Strawberries
- Lime squeeze
- Angostura bitters
For a party size bowl of Goombay Smashes:
- 2 46-ounce cans pineapple juice
- 1/2 gallon fresh squeezed orange juice
- 12 ounces Cointreau
- 1 750-ml bottle of Coconut rum
- 1 750-ml bottle of amber rum
- 1 bottle of Myer’s rum for float
Optional Garnish:
- Mint leaves
- Pineapple or Orange slices
- Strawberries
- Lime squeezes
- Angostura bitters
Instructions
For a single cocktail:
- Fill a highball glass with ice. Add pineapple juice, orange juice, Cointreau, amber rum and coconut rum.
- Stir and top with a float of Myer’s rum.
- Add a squeeze of fresh lime and a shake of Angostura bitters. Garnish with mint leaves, pineapple and orange slices and strawberries.
For a party size bowl of Goombay Smashes:
- In a large punch bowl or beverage dispensing jar, combine all ingredients except Myer’s rum. Stir to combine.
- Pour into individual ice-filled highball glasses. Top each glass with a float of Myer’s rum, a squeeze of fresh lime and a shake of Angostura bitters.
- Garnish with mint leaves, pineapple and orange slices and strawberries. Makes about 40 servings.
I have been to Green Turtle many times. My fav. vaca. had my share of Goombay Smashes. yum. Love Ms. Violet at Miss Emily’s blue bee. They have wonderful food too. Brendal is fab. Always have a fun time out with him. We are going back in 2020. Can’t wait. From Michigan.
Isn’t it a fun stop? I always have to have a calorie-ladened but utterly delicious Bushwhacker at Green Turtle bar. More milkshake than cocktail, but I can’t help myself!
How long will a party batch last? Looking to serve it at a bachelorette weekend, but I could see people wanting left overs to carry to the beach the next day.
Hi Jo, I can’t give you a firm shelf life, but looking at the ingredients, I would say as long as pineapple and orange juice will keep in your fridge. So, the next day should be fine. I can tell you that all the bars in The Bahamas make up big batches of Goombay Smashes and then simply pour them into glasses as the orders come in. So far, nobody seems upset with this method.
Your large bath does not include Cointreau. Was that intentional?
If not – what what be the amount needed in the large batch?
Hi Jo, Thank you for catching this omission. The recipe is now updated and correct. Enjoy!
Served a big batch as the “Welcome Drink” for a Bachelorette Weekend. It was a hit! First person that to get a glass asked for the recipe. Word of advice – go with the bigger bottle of Myer’s Rum for the topper. I didn’t think we would need that much, but it goes fast and gives the drink a tasty punch.
I am so glad the welcome drink worked out well for you. I agree, the Myer’s rum float makes this Goombay Smash extra delicious. It is not the worst thing in the world if you have a little extra Myer’s in your liquor cabinet. My dad once told me “Myer’s rum makes everything better. He like to drizzle a little on a bowl of fruit and ice cream for dessert.