This tropical and creamy treat is a great way to keep the summer parties going.
It was an open bar. Meaning there were no walls, just the bar, some stools and a handful of tables sitting under a thatched roof. Rickety old fans squeaked overhead as they rotated slowly, barely moving the hot and humid air around. Beyond the bar was the beach it sat on. Out past that, the Caribbean.
I was on the island of San Monique, on the trail of another elusive cocktail history. My mission, which I chose to accept, was to find the mixologist responsible for the tourist favorite known as the Dirty Banana. This tiny and beautiful nation had flourished in the past decades, and its pristine shores and stunning cliffs convinced me that it was the perfect place to start my search.
To get in the mood, I moseyed up to the rustic bar and ordered a few Dirty Bananas. Pure research, I told myself. Banana and coffee liqueurs were blended together with silver rum, heavy cream and a nice ripe banana over some crushed ice. The smooth, cold and yellow tropical potion eased my mind, even making me think this task might be easier than I expected.
As I drank, the barkeep kept me company. I explained what I was doing there, and he excitedly jumped over the bar and sat next to me. He leaned in close, as if to tell me a secret.
“I know all about the Dirty Banana… who made it and where!”
My eyes widened. “Spit it out, don’t leave me hanging!”
“Okay… in Jamaica, there was this bartender who had a lotta bananas. He had to get rid of them, yeah? So, he comes up with this drink, the Dirty Banana.”
The barkeep sat back, a big smile on his face, thoroughly pleased with himself. I sat there for a moment, waiting for the rest. When I realized that was the end of his story, I inquired further.
“That’s it?”
“Yup!”
“What was the bartender’s name?”
“Don’t know. Nobody does.”
“And where was this bar?”
“I told you, Jamaica.”
“What part of Jamaica?”
“Right near the beach. I’m assuming.”
The bartender stood up, smiled and informed me they had to get back to work. I continued sipping on my Dirty Bananas, wondering if my next port of call would be Ocho Rios. As I pondered, I ordered another round.
What is the Best Banana Liqueur to Use in a Dirty Banana?
When choosing a banana liqueur, I can only suggest doing what I did. And what I did was go to my local liquor store and ask the shopkeeper which bottle I should go with. If you do the same, you’ll probably get a different brand than what I purchased. What I learned is that there are quite a few banana-flavored spirits out there, many ranging from very sweet to more traditional alcohol-tasting blends. There’s even schnapps available, so good luck and have some fun when choosing.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup crushed ice
- 1 1/2 ounces white rum
- 1 ounce coffee-flavored liqueur
- 1 ounce banana liqueur
- 1 ounce heavy cream
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 banana chunk for garnish
Instructions
- Add the crushed ice, white rum, coffee-flavored liqueur, banana liqueur, heavy cream, and ripe banana into a blender.
- Blend until smooth, ensuring the ice is completely crushed and the mixture is creamy.
- Pour the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish with a banana chunk and serve immediately.
Nutrition
FAQs & Tips
You can use a hurricane glass or an Irish coffee mug to serve your Dirty Bananas in. Garnish with a slice of banana on the rim to complete that resort look. You can even pop a cocktail umbrella in there, too.
You can upscale, blend and store this drink in an airtight container in your fridge for up to a few days.
Our recipe says that each Dirty Banana you have will be around 606 calories, so take it easy when you’re enjoying these.
You can omit the crushed ice and whole banana, shake the other ingredients over ice and serve on the rocks or straight up for a cool variation on this cocktail.
Similar Drinks to the Dirty Banana
The summer might have ended, but you’re not ready for it to be over. Twist & Toast understands, and can offer some respite. If the Dirty Banana kept those vacation vibes going for you, then check out some of these other adult beverages that are sure to please your palate and keep your mood cool.
- Chocolate Martini – This decadent tipple will have you requesting a second glass.
- Bushwacker – Rum and creamy coconut flavors collide in this delicious dessert-like cocktail.
- Grasshopper – Minty, chocolatey and dreamlike, the Grasshopper might become your next favorite recipe.
- Mudslide – Vodka, coffee liqueur and Irish cream combine to create this classic.
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