One of the new offerings we tried during our recently visits to Smuggler’s Cove is a new cocktail and mug pairing featuring one of the Cove’s signature crate mugs paired with a new cocktail from Dane Barca (of Dr. Barca’s Fluffy Banana fame). The Flotsam Fizz and mug combo is only $25 and you can choose your mug from those still available.
The Flotsam Fizz contains “potent rums,” lemon, coconut, passionfruit, pineapple, and cola. It has a wonderful fruity taste and a nice foamy head, garnished with an orchid and lemon twist. I really loved this cocktail, with some of the spices from the cola working very well with the tangy fruit flavors from the passionfruit. Honestly, I wouldn’t have felt ripped off if the cocktail itself was $25, but to get a mug alongside means this combo is a steal!
Our friend Kristi also ordered one and we both chose Demerara as our mug of choice from those available.
Additionally, the good Dr. Barca also mentioned he has a new drink he’s been working on called Fool Me Once… That’s the one pictured with the Hibiscus Rum Punch and the details of the evening are hazy, thus I’m not certain what’s in it but it sure tastes fantastic, so ask Dane next time you’re at the Cove and you’ll be in for a treat.
I tried to comment on your instagram post, but I don’t think it made it through for some reason. Maybe too long or else my account is too inactive to make it past the spam filters.
FYI, the Fool Me Once isn’t technically new. It was created by Dr. Barca in February 2025 when the Cove got in a Copalli barrel pick. I’m guessing he’s been retooling it to use more affordable/available rum(s). The flavors of the original recipe included lime, orange, coconut, passion fruit, cinnamon, vanilla, orgeat, and of course the Copalli Smuggler’s Cove Barrel Select. Pretty sure the working version they serve now is similar, though I don’t know what rum they are using or how it’s all balanced. It’s excellent in any case, and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting!
Bonus tidbit: I’m not 100% certain, but I believe Simon once told us that the Fool Me Once is his favorite drink at the Cove. My wife adores it too, and we’ve been ordering it off menu every once in a while ever since it debuted.
We also love the Flotsam Fizz. I hope both this one and the Fool Me Once become mainstays on the menu for the long haul.
Thanks for those details. The drink was described as “new” to be by Dr. Barca himself – maybe he meant it is a tweaked version.