Grail #9 Sunken Tiki Mug Smuggler's Cove Crazy Al

Lot Title: “Sunken Tiki” Mug by Crazy Al for Smuggler’s Cove — Brown & Black Glaze Edition (2012)

This ceramic cocktail mug, designed by acclaimed tiki artist Crazy Al Evans, depicts a weathered and groaning tiki statue, seemingly long-submerged at the bottom of the ocean. Encrusted with sculpted barnacles, coral formations, and tangled fish nets, the piece captures a sense of tropical ruin and deep-sea mystery.

Created for the renowned Smuggler’s Cove tiki bar in San Francisco, this mug became an icon of the modern tiki revival and was prominently featured on the cover of Smuggler’s Cove: Exotic Cocktails, Rum, and the Cult of Tiki by Martin and Rebecca Cate. Originally released in 2012, the mug has appeared in various glaze editions. This particular version features a rich brown and black hand-wiped finish, highlighting the detailed textures and contours of the design.

Marked on the base: “Al Evans © Smuggler’s Cove 2012”
Color: Brown and black hand-wiped glaze
Material: Ceramic
Dimensions: 3½” wide × 8″ tall
Capacity: 16 fl. oz.

Traditionally served with “The Expedition” cocktail: a blend of black rum, bourbon, coffee liqueur, lime juice, cinnamon, honey, vanilla, and seltzer.

Special Notes: Initially available only in-person at Smuggler’s Cove, this mug was later offered online during the COVID-19 pandemic as part of a fundraising effort to support the bar.

A significant piece of contemporary tiki culture, merging design, mixology, and community history into a single vessel.