Smuggler's Hold — Boxes and Booze

Smuggler’s Hold

People love a good series. But what is the perfect number of books, or movies, or episodes, or, shall we entertain the idea, puzzles, in a series? A sequel is always nice, particularly for a well loved original with an equally impressive follow up. Like Spinal Tap … or the Stickman Gordian Knot, and its unexpected sequel which appeared fifteen years later. A trilogy is equally welcome, and can be epic – Lord of the Rings, say no more. A trilogy can even be expanded upon, as with Star Wars, or perhaps the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Want to get even more immersive? A seven-part series seems to hit the sweet spot there. Great examples include The Chronicles of Narnia, the Harry Potter books, or another set of books by puzzle maker Bill Sheckels. What do of these types of series have in common? They are finite.

Jesse Born doesn’t like to be constrained by convention and definitely thinks outside the box. He has just introduced the “Infinity Cube” concept – a series with different themes that goes on and on, and offers something to look forward to year after year. “The word infinity means that there can be as many of these in the series as infinity. It’s not confined to a trilogy or to ten boxes. It can go on and on and over the years we can add to this collection of cubes. I thought cubes would work great for this concept.”

Years ago I spoke to Jesse about making an apothecary type chest to hold a set of cube puzzles, and while that project never came about, he still liked the idea and has it in mind for this new product line. As the Infinity Cubes materialize over time, there may someday be a case which can display them all. “It would be nice if you could look at the different themes and just pick out the cube you want.” At this point Jesse does not have any specific plans for this, nor any puzzle aspect to the case, since it would need to be modular to allow for an “infinity” number of possible cubes! But I suspect a cube case made by Jesse might be a very elegant and interesting piece of furniture and a great way to display these puzzles one day.

Smuggler’s Hold, the first in the infinite series, is a richly detailed pirate themed mixed material cube that has a few fun surprises hidden away. Jesse has had great success with the pirate theme in the past! He recently told me about the new project. “We started out designing many different cubes before we got to the Smuggler’s Hold. You hit different blockades and things that are hard to get over and nothing was really coming to fruition that I wanted to put out yet, though we might circle back and rework some of those designs and they might make it into a cube with some more thought.” Jesse and his team are full of great ideas. After a few months of working on ideas independently and in collaboration, Josh, Ben and Jesse decided on the Smuggler’s Hold idea. “At first I was just thinking about a cube with a vault dial and expanding that out. I envisioned it as a pirate type cube with a vault and pillars, railings and all that. Once you have that concept that you’re focused around, the vault, then you build out the rest of it.”

There is a very novel idea at the core of this puzzle. The execution of the concept has been a bit controversial, and not everyone has been a fan. I found it to be clever, unexpected and well executed. Having solved a number of Jesse’s puzzles, I knew how to interpret the clues and follow their lead. Perhaps that helps in this case. The mechanism is extremely precise, however, which can make it very tricky and lead to uncertainty even when you are attempting the correct solution, so persevere! It was this idea that “really cemented it …. A new unique idea that you can really center around. Something that makes it a new unique experience for people. We determined that it was going to work and then continued to make it. We always have to center around one core concept.”

Jesse also wants the Infinity Cube series to be a more affordable option compared to his high end puzzles. Getting the price point down was a challenge solved by a new Datron CNC machine that produces hyper accurate, precise parts and allows for “second op” work – flipping a piece over and make precise accurate cuts to match up, something not possible with the standard CNC machines they had. This allowed significant improvement in efficiency, production, and assembly that led to reductions in price point. The boxes feature an inner core that is 3D printed, and outer parts of exotic wood that are made on the Datron and then finished for carving on the router or lathe. The sun on top is inlay veneer created with the laser cutter. There are even brass and bronze accents. The whole process is automated and streamlined.

“What I like most about this puzzle is that we did find a unique new mechanism to incorporate as well as some unexpected surprises. Anytime we can provide something new and unexpected is great. A lot of boxes out there might look really interesting but once you start solving it, there is nothing really unique, just some buttons to push and nothing interesting just beyond what you were expecting. I think throwing in new things and changing up the game is really important.” Smuggler’s Hold is a very handsome puzzle, full of intricate details and well guarded secrets. The first step alone had me stumped for weeks – Jesse is a master at this type of trick hiding in plain sight. You will find things you didn’t expect, which along with the elements of a Jesse Born puzzle you do expect, have come to define his puzzles. Thankfully Jesse and his team are full of incredible ideas, so just imagine what they might come up with next. The possibilities are infinite.

The Expedition cocktail Smugglers Cove — The Expedition by Martin Cate

Pirate themed puzzles deserve rum cocktails. It’s a well-known fact on the notes that are one octave above middle C. Those are the “high Cs” if you aren’t very musical. To celebrate the Smuggler’s Hold box we are stepping into the swarthy comfort of San Francisco’s iconic tiki bar, Smuggler’s Cove, a place this box would feel right at home. One of their famous concoctions, created by owner Martin Cate in homage to “Don the Beachcomber”, the grandaddy of tiki cocktails, is called “The Expedition”, and that sounds just right as a toast to this adventure.

The drink certainly takes you on an adventure, combining black blended rum and bourbon with lime and a host of sweet flavors. This is at its dark and brooding heart a daiquiri, although a rather complex one. Black blended rum is typically molasses based and from Jamaica, with deep and distinctive caramel flavors. The bourbon should be bold as well, as there are a lot of sweeteners that need high proof balance. I like to simplify the process and made a single syrup with demerara, honey, cinnamon, and vanilla. The coffee liqueur is also a nice touch that sets this one apart. The drink might knock your socks off, it’s so tasty, unless you already have a peg leg. Cheers!

Smuggler's Hold puzzle box by Jesse Born and The Expedition cocktail Smugglers Cove — a smug pair

The Expedition by Martin Cate

2 oz black blended rum

1 oz bourbon

½ oz cinnamon syrup

½ oz honey syrup

¼ oz vanilla syrup

¼ oz coffee liqueur

1 oz lime

2 oz soda water

Flash blend ingredients with pebble ice and agitator cubes. (Or shake with ice and strain, then add crushed ice). Open pour into a tiki mug, top with the soda water, and grate nutmeg on top. Orchid garnish is official.

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The Black Pearl

Smuggler’s Hold

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