Frenzies: Smuggler's Cove Announced, Crowd Goes Wild

Late yesterday, local bar legend Martin Cate sent out a press release detailing his new project, due this November and to be called Smuggler's Cove. Soon thereafter, rumdemonium (sorry) ensued, with cocktail geeks everywhere atwitter, immediately crowning Smuggler's Cove "the greatest tiki bar on earth." Read all about it here, here, here, here, here, and here. So yeah, the news is obviously welcome. And frankly, even with all the superlatives being tossed around, we can't think of a better time to open a top-flight tiki bar, given the current cocktail movement and the situation at the Tonga Room.

Cate, last seen at Forbidden Island, is mum on his new location, but has created a sort of an online treasure map game to find the info (spoiler: you type "legendary" into the black space on the hidden link page), but you have to check back on a regular basis for subsequent clues.

The announcement, in all its glory:

SMUGGLER’S COVE COMING FALL 2009 TO SAN FRANCISCO

SAN FRANCISCO, CA- This fall, San Francisco will become home to Smuggler’s Cove, a new bar designed to celebrate the incredible diversity and versatility of the world’s most exciting spirit: Rum. Smuggler’s Cove offers a whole new approach to rum by featuring a vast array of traditional Caribbean drinks, classic libations of Prohibition-Era Havana, and famous exotic cocktails from legendary tiki bars- all under one roof. In addition, Smuggler’s Cove will offer an unparalleled selection of rare and premium rums from around the world carefully selected for enjoying on their own or skillfully blended into cocktails. For over a decade, owner and creator Martin Cate has been passionate about rum & tropical cocktails. He was the co-creator, designer and chief mixologist for Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge in Alameda, CA. He has judged in international rum competitions, met with over a dozen rum distillers in five countries, and lectured at Bourbon and Branch’s Beverage Academy, Tales of the Cocktail, and Tiki Oasis. “I am very excited to help showcase this wonderfully varied spirit both on its own and in delicious cocktails. A great rum drink can be simple and elegant, or complex and dynamic, but it must always be balanced, approachable, and just a pleasure to drink,” says Martin Cate. “Too often, people associate rum with syrupy and artificial drinks and we’re here to change that.” Martin has traveled the world to learn the rich history and explore the traditional spices and regional ingredients of the world’s rum producing countries in order to feature them in the cocktails of Smuggler’s Cove. As an award-winning mixologist and member of the United States Bartenders Guild for the last four years, Martin is committed to using only the best quality spirits, fresh-squeezed juices, and housemade ingredients. But while Martin is serious about the drinks, he knows that people are looking for a memorable and fun experience as well. “Smuggler’s Cove will be more than just a tiki bar, but it will feature the kind of dramatic, mysterious, and escapist atmosphere that makes a tiki bar so special- and makes rum taste better!” Smuggler’s Cove will include waterfalls, vintage nautical décor and rum memorabilia, and relics from some of San Francisco’s most famous historic watering holes. Smuggler’s Cove will open November 2009 in San Francisco, CA.

For more information, please visit http://www.smugglerscovesf.com/ and sign up on our mailing list to get all the latest news.

UPDATE 6/5: OK, since there's been some confusion in the comments about the original photo (which was taken in a hotel room, not a tiki bar), a different image has been subbed in. For reference and/or fond memories, the original can be seen here.