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.
Equipment
- 1 Jigger
- 1 Blender
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.