Smuggler's Cove: Exotic Cocktails, Rum, and the Cult of Tiki Hardcover – June 7, 2016

The media could not be loaded. This book has been a delight from cover to cover. From the very first page to the last, Martin Cate invites you on a journey through time. His descriptions are enticing and exciting and the photos are stunningly vibrant. The whole book is beautifully illustrated and formatted. "Smuggler's Cove" reads like a novel, like a history book, and like a recipe collection all in one. If you weren't in love with Tiki before, you will be after you read this! The cocktails seem intimidating at first with their laundry list of syrups and rums, but fear not; there is a section that breaks down rum categories and an index section with recipes and resources.If you're even slightly interested in rum and/or Tiki culture, I would consider this an essential codex in your collection.

There’s a lot packed into the pages of this book. In fact, it’s one of the most comprehensive texts on the subject of tiki / exotica history & culture. This book takes you through the origins, evolution and revival of this movement, while offering up over 100 cocktail recipes (both classic and modern). In particular, we were excited to explore those featuring rum. Although a spirit we were largely unfamiliar with, it is the center of attention here - with a considerable amount of ink devoted to its history, production, tasting notes and use in mixed drinks. Scattered throughout are retro-inspired illustrations and gorgeous photographs, making this a really enjoyable page-turner. Here are the cocktails we made:• Suffering Bastard - Developed in Cairo during World War II, it’s one of the few cocktails we chose from the book that does not feature rum as the base spirit. Instead, London dry gin and brandy are shaken with lime juice, simple syrup and a couple of dashes of bitters before being strained not a glass with ginger beer. Garnish with some fresh mint and you have yourself a sophisticated summer sipper!• Jungle Bird - This is the perfect hot weather drink. Crushed ice is blended with pineapple and lime juices, simple syrup, dark rum and our good buddy Campari! We got fancier with our presentation than we probably needed to be, crafting little pineapple “coins” for garnish.• Grog - This drink dates all the way back to the British Royal Navy in 1740. Admiral Edward “Old Grogram” Vernon allowed his sailors to trade their ration of salt and bread for limes and sugar. This was combined with their daily allowance of rum for a simple, yet potent, cocktail. No doubt they forgot all about their hunger! We used a good quality dark, aged rum - a significant upgrade to the stuff the sailors drank, which was often diluted with briny sea water.• Twelve Mile Limit - During Prohibition, the U.S. government’s enforcement was limited to 12 miles off-shore. Thus, the name of this cocktail - which contains a potent combination of brandy, rye and rum (along with Grenadine and lemon juice). Now, you’d likely need to travel less than 12 miles on-shore to procure the necessary ingredients for this drink.• Barbados Rum Punch - Another simple rum cocktail (fresh lime juice, simple syrup and Angostura bitters) with a sprinkle of grated nutmeg to finish. This adult beverage is definitely worthy of busting out the fancy glasses!

When I first picked up Smuggler’s Cove a year ago, I had 8 lonely bottles on my shelf—only one of them rum (shoutout to Bacardi Superior, the humble gateway spirit). Fast forward 12 months, and I now have a full-blown home bar bursting with 180 bottles, many of them rums I hadn’t even heard of before cracking open this book.Smuggler’s Cove didn’t just teach me how to make drinks—it sparked a full-on obsession. I’ve now made over half the recipes in the book and rated each one from 1 to 5 stars. Around 70% have earned a 4 or 5 star rating, which speaks volumes about the quality and balance of these recipes. The drinks are creative, layered, and transportive—exactly what tiki should be.This isn’t just a recipe book; it’s a deep dive into the culture, history, and sheer joy of rum and tiki. Whether you're just starting with a basic rum or you're 100+ bottles deep into your journey, Smuggler’s Cove delivers at every level.Final Verdict: 5 stars. Phenomenal book. It changed the way I drink, mix, and think about rum—and I couldn’t be more grateful.