The REAL Bahama Mama

by Sunil Osman (South Africa)

A leap into the unknown Bahamas

Throughout my restaurant and cocktail bar hopping across the world, I have always stumbled across the cocktail called the 'Bahama Mama'. So, I figured that the best place to go and find the real 'Bahama Mama' would be to embark on a trip to the Bahamas itself. Taking into account the Bahamas is a large area, I booked myself onto a cruise ship which I was told docks close to popular restaurants and beach bars. Right up my alley. Without hesitation I chose a weekend cruise as I couldn't see myself at sea for too long. I like land too. The cruise ship safety briefing was rather boring, but I could understand the importance. Being a weekend cruise; also called 'the booze cruise' there were quite a few passengers who were well liquored up before we even set sail. Exploring the ship, I had already been greeted with a cocktail, but it wasn't a Bahama Mama. (I even asked.) Our first port was Nassau. I had heard about the jewelry, the tourist attractions, etc. and I will go back for this another time. I was concentrating on finding a Bahama Mama. The locals were extremely friendly and guided me to a bar extremely close to the port. Now, this would make it easier if I were to have more than one drink. I look at the menu, and there she is in BOLD, 'Bahama Mama'. Without hesitation I order her while looking out at the crystal clear blue waters being enjoyed by divers and fellow passengers wanting to see the coral, which quite frankly can be seen without going under water and paying for the dive. We leave the port and I am not fully satisfied about my Bahama Mama experience, but Nassau itself was beautiful with colorful buildings and soft sand between the toes. I know, because I managed to walk off the Bahama Mama on the beach. After a rather long bumpy cruise to our next destination, the crew onboard became extremely excited for the next port, the private Island of Coco Cay. I have only ever heard of the island, but did not expect what I experienced. It was well worth the prolonged cruise to arrive at a private port and be treated like Kings on arrival. I thought the water was blue at Nassau, but this water was so warm and blue that I couldn't resist taking a dip, completely forgetting about the search for a Bahama Mama. The water was more than crystal clear, but eventually got too warm and leaving the water was the only way to cool down...or was it. There across the soft sanded beach was a bar shaped like a ship wreck and outside this was a cocktail menu. Second on the list was 'BAHAMA MAMA'. Could this be the one? Chatting to cruisers who had been there before (apparently it is a regular thing) they informed me that Coco Cay is the best private Island. I was to base this on my Bahama Mama experience. She arrived in the BIGGEST cocktail glass I had ever seen! I was impressed already. I took my first sip before mixing everything and the taste played on my tongue like a dream. This was indeed the best Bahama Mama I had tasted across the world. After a long day on the private island, many Bahama Mamas and exploring every corner and doing every fun activity at Coco Cay we all heard the call to go back onboard. It was evident that many did not want to leave the island, but rules are rules and we were ushered back onboard. I slept this night knowing I will be back on land the next day, but I had experiences the best Bahama Mama and taken a cruise with an experience not limited to cocktails, despite it being a 'booze cruise' After a very long visa application, many connecting flights and waits at passport control, finding the real 'Bahama Mama' was worth the wait. I strongly recommend a cruise to experience more.