Arrr! Ever wonder why pirates always say that? I'd say it has something to do with all that rum they drink burning their throats on the way down.

Now Stillwater has its very own "arrr"-inducing bar -- Smalley's Caribbean Barbeque & Pirate Bar. While the drink list here has enough rum shots to make Captain Jack Sparrow wheeze, it also contains plenty of Caribbean cocktails capable of generating a refreshing "Ahhh."

Whatever your choice -- fiery shots or tropical drinks -- Smalley's is definitely a summer haven. The concept came from Tim McKee and Josh Thoma, owners of La Belle Vie and Solera, and the joint is operated by longtime cook Shawn Smalley. La Belle Vie mixologist Johnny Michaels took his drink artistry for an island cruise at Smalley's, while bar manager Frank Brewer amassed a gigantic rum list.

But don't think you're going to see bartenders walking around with eye patches and parrots. The theme is more nuanced. Wooden rum barrels decorate the front bar. Around the corner is a huge Red Stripe mural, a nod to the famous Jamaican beer. The back bar opens up onto a quaint patio. They also have a cannon.

Michaels' Caribbean cocktail list is anchored by an array of mojitos -- their pirate names, such as Blackbeard and Barbarossa, reference their respective flavors (blackberry and red berry pomegranate). Here are a few noteworthy cocktails:

  • Kingston: A Caribbean allspice rum with house-made grapefruit soda, this is a variation on the classic Hemingway Daiquiri. $7.50.
  • Big Bamboo: A mojito with house-made ginseng bitters and a syrup distilled from pureed ginger. $8.50.
  • Sunsplash: Michaels calls this the most mainstream drink on the menu: "a turbo-charged screwdriver." Basically a bright orange, citrus tang punch, made with pineapple rum. $7.50.

Rum is a large part of the Caribbean culture, so Brewer has tried to capture that depth with a long list of rum shots -- 45 and growing-- ranging from $3 to $50. If you want to try a few different rums without going broke, order a rum flight ($12), which they call the Walk the Plank. It's three small premium shots served on a wood plank.

If you think treating rum like wine is a little too prissy, then ask for a shot called the Kill-Devil. The $3 shot is a tribute to the origins of Caribbean rum, which was first created when locals discovered that sugarcane by-products like molasses could be fermented into alcohol. They call it Kill-Devil because of its harsh taste. Smalley's version is a mixture of stuff, including Bacardi 151.

"If an actual pirate came in here and asked for a shot, this is what we would give him," Michaels said. "It's a drink for today's pirate."