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Food, Drink & Bartenders in the Abacos.
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Sandy's Solution to the Tropical Drink Dilemma

from Sandy Estabrook's Guide to The Abacos, Bahamas

Miss Emily - early 90's photo. Click pict for another image.

The Bahamian National drink is the “Goombay Smash”. It is the most famous drink of them all, and got its start at Miss Emily's Blue Bee Bar, a little out of the way place on Green Turtle Cay back in the 60's. Her bar has long been “THE” watering hole for the cruising yachtsman and early pilots who made the Abacos their getaway home. Sadly, Miss Emily passed away in 1997 but the traditions of her “establishment” are now being run by her daughter Violet. Today, throughout these islands, and the Caribbean in general, most all the “specialties of the house” drinks are made with assorted rums and fruit juice with pineapple and coconut being the main ingredients. In the Abacos, you will come across the Tipsy Turtle at the Green Turtle Club. The Guana Grabber was the drink of renown at the Guana Beach Resort on Guana Cay until it burnt down. It has been replaced by a drink called the Nipper, named after the cliff dwelling restaurant and bar of the same name. Others we have tried are the Bahama Breeze, Banana Flavored Yellow Bird and something called a Conch Pearl, all at the Abaco Inn, on Elbow Cay. Then there is the Reef Wreck at the Hope Town Harbour Lodge. Cracker P's has it's shotgun and if You make it all the way down to Little Harbour on Abaco's mainland to Pete's Pub, you can try his high powered Blaster. They wont serve you more than two if you came on two wheels - bike or moped. If by chance you are a red wine drinker, you are out of luck in the Abacos. The red wine is right up there with all the rums and vodkas and more importantly at Abaco temperatures. So if you don't mind warm red wine or don't care about diluting your red wine with a handful of ice cubes, you'll be OK. Otherwise switch to white. Less I forget, the Beer of the Bahamas is Kalik (pronounced calick).

Ole Cracker P. himself

Paul John Simmons alias “Cracker P Pinder” the namesake of the bar of the same name on Lubbers Quarters, was born 1879 and hailed from Lexington Ga. He was a veteran of the Spanish American War. His bayonet is mounted in the showcase of the bar bearing his name on Lubbers Quarters. In 1915 his family duck was terrorizing the neighborhood causing a fight between Cracker and sheriff Hickory Cartwright. In the ensuing struggle Cracker shot the sheriff and becoming a wanted man he fled to Florida. In time he caught a schooner to Wilson City (near Marsh Harbour). He disembarked, knowing this was to be his new home. He worked his way to Hope Town, where he spent his first two years and met Mr. Lucene Pinder, Abacos commissioner. Eventually he took his name. It is said that Crackers family in Georgia sent funds “To Cracker” through Lucene. Later he settled on Lubbers Quarters where he fished and farmed. He planted many sapodilla trees, which is the fruit used in Bahamian Barbecue Sauce. Cracker built a continuously burning cooking fire which wasn't extinguished till he died in 1954. Cracker had a limited wardrobe and therefore was the first naked person seen by the locals. Some locals say he had a small caliber rifle and was such a good shot that he could hit a fly on the top of the lighthouse. He would pole into town once a month for supplies. Folks would bring him meat in exchange for the vegetables he raised. He lead a truly reclusive life. Cracker's gone now but his legend remains supported by two pictures and trinkets of his, in the bars showcase baring his name. The sweet sweet dilly - sapodilla trees still grow on the property where he lived, and where the bar now stands. Sitting on the porch you can see the remains of a pier he built with coconut trees towering over it. It's a pastime for local folks to have a drink in this lovely spot, while watching the unsuspecting sailboats run aground on the shoals in this part of Abaco Sound.