Dirty Banana

By Timo Torner / Last updated on March 20, 2023

The Dirty Banana cocktail is a favorite drink in many Caribbean countries. It is a rich and creamy cocktail featuring one ripe banana, Rum, and coffee liqueur.
Dirty Banana cocktail with banana chunk garnish

At first sight, one could easily confuse a Dirty Banana Cocktail with a milkshake. But this luscious adult version is much better. It's boozy, rich, creamy, and carries the delicious sweetness of a ripe banana.

Perhaps the name is not that intriguing, nor is the presentation particularly appealing. But in the end, the taste is king. And that's where the Dirty Banana one shines. 

Every ingredient contributes to this brilliant flavor bomb. So let's have a closer look at the recipe.

Ingredients for making a Dirty Banana cocktail

The components you need for the Dirty Banana are Rum, cream, coffee liqueur, banana liqueur, and a whole banana to get the full banana flavor.

Banana

We need one whole banana to make the Dirty Banana cocktail. And -this usually goes for other drinks and desserts, too - it's best to use a ripe one.

If your banana already has some brown spots, it's perfect. The riper the fruit, the better. That increases the sugar level of your drink and results in a much stronger banana taste. 

Banana liqueur

The banana liqueur is the second banana-flavored ingredient. And although this certainly isn't a staple in most home bars, it is pretty damn delicious - at least when using a quality brand. 

I can recommend the banana liqueurs from Giffard and from Bols. Personally, in this case, I prefer the cognac-based version from Giffard (Giffard Banane du Brésil) over the Bols Banana liqueur based on Rum. 

But that's up to the individual taste. Both are high-quality products that will get you a perfect Dirty Banana Cocktail.

Coffee liqueur

Same as it is for the Dirty Horchata, coffee liqueur and Rum make this drink dirty. Kahlúa is the default choice for the coffee liqueur part. 

However, any other coffee liqueur works, too. Other excellent options are, for instance, Tia Maria, Mr. Black cold brew liqueur, or Patron's XO cafe.

Rum for the Dirty Banana

The spirit base of the Dirty Banana is Rum. A slightly aged brown Rum works best with the sweet banana flavors. 

A Havana Club 3-year-old Rum or the Puerto Rican version work nicely. Yet, my recommendation, in this case, is richer Rum which has aged a little longer. My favorites are Havana Club Especial, Bacardi Reserva Ocho, or an Appleton Estate Reserve Blend.

Yet, due to the intense banana flavor, there is no need to go with a particular product. So, you can choose whatever suits you best.

The cream

Many creamy, sweet dessert cocktails ask for heavy cream to get the perfect taste and consistency. But the Dirty Banana recipe calls for half n half or single cream because the banana already adds enough flavor, creaminess, and texture.

Possible variations

There are a number of variations on the base recipe substituting the cream element with something else:

You can use ice cream instead - vanilla or caramel create outstanding results. Or perhaps you want to go vegan with some cream of coconut or gear up on the booze and use Baileys Irish cream.

By replacing just that one element, you can create countless delicious riffs. 

Another way to add some extra flavor is by using some chocolate sauce, which is also a nice upgrade for the presentation of the drink.

Dirty Banana cocktail with banana chunk garnish

Dirty Banana

A delicious and creamy banana cocktail mixed with Rum, coffee liqueur, banana liqueur, and cream.
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Caribbean
Keyword: banana, coffee, rum
Servings: 1
Calories: 482kcal
Cost: $4.30

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 oz Havana Club Especial
  • 1 oz Coffee liqueur
  • 1 oz Giffard Banane du Brésil
  • 2 oz Cream
  • 1 Ripe banana

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients into a blender with 6 oz of crushed or cracked ice.
    2 oz Havana Club Especial, 1 oz Coffee liqueur, 1 oz Giffard Banane du Brésil, 2 oz Cream, 1 Ripe banana
  • Blend until smooth and pour into a large glass.
  • Garnish with a chunk of a banana or some chocolate.

Nutrition

Serving: 12oz | Calories: 482kcal | Carbohydrates: 49.7g | Protein: 6.4g | Fat: 7.8g | Saturated Fat: 4.5g | Sodium: 21mg | Sugar: 46.3g | Vitamin C: 14.5mg | Calcium: 36mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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