Delicious Tropical Goombay Smash Cocktail Recipe

It’s said that the original recipe for the Goombay Smash cocktail is actually a secret, but we think this one is pretty close to the real thing.

This delicious tropical cocktail can be found just about anywhere in the Bahamas, but I don’t want you to have to wait until your next trip there to have one!

Thankfully, my friends at Phaidon sent me a copy of Signature Cocktails by Amanda Schuster, and along with the recipe, there’s also a story about this famous cocktail.

Coconut rum lovers will want to check out this Pina Colada recipe along with this whole list of Malibu Rum Cocktails. Not a coconut fan? Try this delicious Frozen Daiquiri!

Why We Love this Goombay Smash Recipe

We love rum drinks that are flavorful but also have a bit of a kick, and this one definitely has both.

Back in the 1950’s “Miss Emily” Cooper owned Miss Emily’s Blue Bee Bar on Green Turtle Cay in the Bahamas.

She was looking for a house signature drink made with pineapple as it was a local fruit they had in abundance, but she herself had an allergy to it.

Another slight problem was that Miss Emily didn’t drink alcohol. Fortunately, that didn’t prevent her from creating this cocktail and trying it on a handful of regular customers who said it was “very good”.

Based on their feedback, she started serving the Goombay Smash at her bar.

It was so well-liked that she had to serve it in batches in order to meet the demand, and that is how this rum punch cocktail is made in many different bars in the Caribbean today.

We’re making this one at a time, but you can double or triple the batch easily and serve it at your next gathering.

What Goes In This Cocktail

• Pineapple juice
• Orange juice
• Lime juice
• Bitters
• Dark rum aka dirty rum
• Coconut rum
• Pineapple garnish

Recommended Tools

A cocktail shaker glass is important for mixing and chilling cocktails.

The cocktail strainer is a mess-free way to strain the chilled cocktail into a glass.

This cocktail kit has everything you’ll need including a storage piece so everything doesn’t end up in a drawer!

We like these tall fluted glasses, but any tall glass will do.

Variations

It’s believed the original Goombay Smash also had about a half ounce of apricot brandy. Feel free to try it!

Since this drink was created back in the 50s, the recipe has had many variations, including making it with dark rum, white rum, coconut rum, or even coconut cream.

Some people like to use mango juice or guava juice.

I say make it your own using this flavor profile! You really can’t mess this up!

How to Make It

To be honest, it doesn’t matter what order you add the ingredients.

The recipe in Signature Cocktails says just to add all ingredients to a shaker with ice, shake until chilled, and serve over new ice.

I’m walking you through the steps with photos just so you can see it made.

Add Pineapple juice to an empty cocktail shaker.

Pour in orange juice and lime juice

Add bitters. We used orange bitters, but you can use your favorite.

Add dark rum.

Finally, add that delicious coconut rum.

Shake with ice until well chilled and strain into a glass over fresh ice.

Garnish with a pineapple wedge.

Recipe FAQ

Tips for Making the Goombay Smash

Be careful when sipping this cocktail as it tastes so good but has a good amount of alcohol. Remember to drink responsibly.

Though you do want to get this cocktail good and cold, don’t shake it for too long as it will get watered down.

I prefer to add ice at the last minute for the same reason.

Chilled glasses help to keep your cocktails cold. Stick them in the freezer for 30 minutes before getting started.

Feel free to add a maraschino cherry, an orange slice, or a lime wheel.

By the way, if you’d like to learn more about the classic cocktails featured in Signature Cocktails, one of Food & Wines Best Cookbooks of 2023, order it so you have your own copy. I know I’ll be using my copy a lot!

More of our Favorite Cocktails

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Drinks to Mix with Vodka

Mango Mimosa