left-handed banana

1 1/2 oz Bourbon (Evan Williams Bonded)
1/2 oz Campari
1/2 oz Sweet Vermouth (Alessio)
1/2 oz Banana Liqueur (Tempus Fugit)
2 dash Chocolate Bitters (Bittermens Mole)

Stir with ice, strain into an old fashioned glass with ice, and garnish with a cherry. Two Sundays ago, I spotted a curious recipe on the Reddit Cocktails forum created by user The_Xozz called the Left-Handed Banana. The recipe was a riff on Sam Ross' Left Hand and named after a legendary item in the RuneScape game. After I made it, someone reminded me of Anvil's Banana Boulevardier, and I thought: just like a Left Hand is a Boulevardier with chocolate bitters and served up, this is its own drink. Unlike the standard Left Hand that opts for an orange twist and a cocktail coupe, this recipe calls for a cherry and an old fashioned glass with ice (the Banana Boulevardier recipe gives the option of either coupe or rocks glass with ice serving styles, both with an orange twist). Once prepared, the Left-Handed Banana conjured up a cherry and fruity aroma. Next, grape and caramel notes on the sip developed into Bourbon, bitter orange, and banana flavors on the swallow with a chocolate finish.

towards the unknown

1 1/2 oz Reposado Tequila (Cimarron)
1 oz Pimm's No. 1
1/2 oz Crème de Banane (Tempus Fugit)
1/2 oz Lime Juice
2 dash Absinthe (12 drop St. George) (*)

Shake with ice and strain into a coupe glass.

I became inspired to tinker by the reposado tequila-Pimm's aspect of the Primavera that I had just made, and I utilized the Pimm's-banana element in the Luxury from the 1953 UKBG Guide for Drinks as a direction. For a name, I dubbed this one Towards the Unknown after a 1950 painting by Mexican surrealist Gunther Gerzso. Once prepared, the Towards the Unknown wandered to the senses with a vegetal, caramel, banana, and anise aroma. Next, lime, red berry, and caramel notes on the sip uncovered roasted vegetal, fruity, banana, and anise flavors on the swallow. Overall, the absinthe did give this drink a lift and brought it out of the darker fruit direction that the Pimm's and banana liqueur took it in (Giffard's Crème de Banane should be a bit brighter than Tempus Fugit's).

slow drift

1 1/2 oz Santa Teresa 1796 Rum (Zaya)
1/2 oz Drouin Calvados (Morin Selection)
1/4 oz Giffard Crème de Banane (Tempus Fugit)
1/4 oz Amaro Meletti
2 dash Angostura Bitters
2 dash Chocolate Bitters (Bittermens)

Stir with ice and strain into an old fashioned glass with a big cube. No garnish was specified. Two Wednesdays ago, I returned to online recipe flashcards for Dear Irving, and I selected the Slow Drift from their current menu at their Gramercy location from the Island Hop section. Its Meletti-banana duo occurred before in the DK Old Fashioned with Bourbon and the Kon'Nichiwa!!! with Japanese whiskey and crème de cacao, so I was curious to try it with a dark rum-apple brandy base that reminded me of the spirits in the Sky Pilot. Once served, the Slow Drift gave forth a caramel, violet-floral, chocolate, and apple aroma. Next, caramel on the sip blossomed into dark rum, apple, herbal, banana, and allspice flavors on the swallow.

hat in hand

1 1/2 oz Aged Rum (Planteray Mr. Fogg)
1/2 oz Cognac (Courvoisier VS)
3/4 oz Banana Liqueur (Tempus Fugit)
2 dash Angostura Bitters
1 dash Saline (4 drop 20%)

Stir with ice, strain into an old fashioned glass with a large ice cube, and garnish with an orange twist. Two Wednesdays ago, I returned to sets of online recipe flashcards for Dear Irving and spied the Hat in Hand. I was able to trace it back to the current menu for Dear Irving Gramercy, the Raines Law menu in 2020 via a Yelp photo, and Fresh Kills in 2017 via a Yelp review. Overall, the recipe reminded me of the King Kong and Banana Cognac with different spirits and sometimes bitters (as well as the Bananarac if you overlook the absinthe rinse and serving style). In the glass, the Hat in Hand showcased an orange, caramel, and dried banana aroma. Next, caramel notes on the sip opened up into rum, Cognac, caramelized banana, and clove flavors on the swallow.

the belafonte

1 1/2 oz Angostura Rum (Monymusk Classic Gold)
3/4 oz Banana Liqueur (Tempus Fugit)
1/2 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Pineapple Juice
1/4 oz Ginger Syrup

Shake with ice and strain into a coupe glass. I added a lime wheel garnish. Two Thursdays ago, I looked through the recipes that I had marked down from online flashcard sets for the Wilson & Wilson Private Detective Agency, a speakeasy connected to Bourbon & Branch in San Francisco. There, I was lured in by the Belafonte from a 2017 menu. There is already one other Belafonte from The Hawthorne on the blog as well as the Stack Banana from the Baldwin Bar making reference to Belafonte's most famous song. Moreover, at the tail end of my tenure at Russell House Tavern in 2015, we had a Belafonte on the dessert menu of black strap rum, banana liqueur, allspice dram, and housemade coffee bitters. Regardless, this combination called out to be made. In the glass, the Belafonte offered up pineapple and banana aromas to the nose. Next, lime, pineapple, and caramel notes on the sip opened up into rum, banana, pineapple, and ginger flavors on the swallow.

the mental demands of modern life

1 1/2 oz Altos Reposado Tequila (Cimarron)
1/2 oz Pedro Ximenez Sherry (Lustau)
1/2 oz Cocchi Sweet Vermouth (Alessio)
3/8 oz Fernet Branca
3/8 oz Giffard Crème de Banane (Tempus Fugit)
2 dash Regan's Orange Bitters (Angostura Orange)
1 dash Angostura Bitters

Stir with ice, strain into an old fashioned glass with a large ice cube, and garnish with an orange twist. Two Wednesdays ago, I returned to the online recipe flashcards for the Patterson House in Nashville, and The Mental Demands of Modern Life called out to me especially since I had just replaced my bottle of Pedro Ximenez. A 2022 StarChefs article attributed the drink to bartender Sam McCullough. While the aged spirit, banana, and Fernet trio makes me think of the Away Colors, the closest drink that I have tried is a mezcal with vermouth version called Dead in the Water, and I created a gin with vermouth Hanky Panky riff called Monkey Business. The Mental Demands of Modern Life in the glass evolved an orange, raisin, and menthol aroma. Next, grape and caramel notes on the sip unloaded vegetal agave, cooked banana, raisin, gentian bitter, and menthol flavors on the swallow.

polite meeting

1 1/2 oz Bols Genever (Bols Barrel-aged)
1/2 oz Rittenhouse Rye
1/4+ oz Giffard Crème de Banane (Tempus Fugit)
1/8 oz Maple Syrup
13 drop Root Beer Bitters (1 dash Bitter Queens Sarsparilla)

Stir with ice, strain into an old fashioned glass with ice, and garnish with a lemon twist. Two Tuesdays prior, I returned to online recipe flashcards for The Patterson House in Nashville, and I was drawn in by a Genever-rye whiskey Old Fashioned called the Polite Meeting for their Fall 2024 menu. The Genever-maple pairing drew my attention since it has worked in drinks like the Western Front and the Smokin' Bols, but Genever-banana is something that I have only seen in the This That & The Other which had other flavors going on. In the glass, the Polite Meeting launched off with lemon and malty aromas. Next, malt and caramel notes on the sip unfurled into Genever, root beer, maple, banana, and wormwood flavors on the swallow.

te anuanua

2 oz Jamaican Rum (1 3/4 oz Appleton 8 Year + 1/4 oz Smith & Cross)
3/4 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Banana Liqueur (Tempus Fugit)
1/4 oz Orgeat
1/4 oz Passion Fruit Syrup

Whip shake with crushed ice, pour into a glass or mug, fill with crushed ice, and garnish with a mint sprig, a half passion fruit, and an orchid (spent lime shell with 151 proof rum (El Dorado) ignited). Two Saturdays ago, I decided to make a drink that I had spotted on a friend's Instagram called the Te Anuanua. It was created by Derek Cole on his Make and Drink account on YouTube, and this Mai Tai riff's name translates to rainbow in Tahitian. The combination seemed familiar, and I decided to make it and check later; my hunch was right, for the Te Anuanua is essentially the Tequi la Banane that I had a month before but with rum and lime instead of tequila and lemon and a flip of the banana liqueur and orgeat amounts. In the glass though, the Te Anuanua began with a rum funk, banana, and passion fruit aroma. Next, a slightly creamy lime and caramel sip refracted into funky rum, nutty, banana, and passion fruit flavors on the swallow.

night nurse

1 oz Aged Jamaican Rum (Appleton 8 Year)
1 oz Punt e Mes
3/4 oz Campari
1/2 oz Overproof Jamaican Rum (Wray & Nephew)
1/4 oz Cynar
1 tsp Banana Liqueur (Tempus Fugit)
1 tsp Coffee Liqueur (Borghetti)

Stir with ice, strain into a double old fashioned glass with a large ice cube, and garnish with an orange twist. Two Wednesdays ago, I was perusing my copy of the January/February 2026 issue of Imbibe Magazine when I spotted the Night Nurse by Robby Dow at Bespoke in Wilmington, North Carolina. Overall, it was akin to the Coffee Negroni with different rum origin plus touches of Cynar and banana liqueur. Once mixed, the Night Nurse gave forth an orange, banana, rum funk, and coffee aroma. Next, grape, caramel, and roast notes on the sip transferred into funky rum, herbal, coffee, and bitter orange flavors on the swallow with a coffee and banana finish.

serpiente

1 1/2 oz Blanco Tequila (Cimarron)
1/2 oz Mezcal (Fosforo Ensemble)
1 oz Pineapple Juice
3/4 oz Lemon Juice
3/4 oz Orgeat
1/2 oz Banana Liqueur (Tempus Fugit)
1 dash Pastis (1/4 tsp Pastis d'Autrefois)

Whip shake with crushed ice, pour into a ceramic mug, and top with crushed ice. Two Tuesday prior, I decided to make a drink that I had spotted on Instagram called the Serpiente by Rob Giuffrida that he posted on his tiki_after_midnight account. I met Rob around 16 years ago at work when I was still pursuing a career in science, and we bonded over our interests in beer, spirits, and later tropical drinks. The recipe reminded me of the Tequi la Banana from the Easy Tiki book with the added touches of pineapple, mezcal, and pastis but no passion fruit. Rob served this in a LowTiki snake mug, so perhaps that along with the Mexican spirits is why he named it after the Spanish word for snake. In the my non-reptilian mug, the Serpiente slithered to the nose with a smoky, earthy, vegetal, and anise bouquet. Next, a creamy lemon and caramel sip opened up into smoky agave, pineapple, almond, banana, and anise flavors on the swallow.

cavendish corpse reviver

3/4 oz Bourbon (Evan Williams Bonded)
3/4 oz Cocchi Americano
3/4 oz Giffard Crème de Banane (Tempus Fugit)
3/4 oz Lemon Juice
2 dash Absinthe (12 drop St. George)

Shake with ice, strain into a cocktail coupe, and garnish with lemon oil from a twist (include twist). Two Sundays prior, I grabbed my copy of The Madrusan Cocktail Companion book, and after having burned through my stash of limes, I sought out a lemon juice drink in the book's Daisy and Sidecar chapter. There, I was lured in by the Cavendish Corpse Reviver by the book's author, Michael Madrusan, at The Everleigh in 2023. The concept of a Bourbon-based Corpse Reviver #2 reminded me of how a bartender at Drink made me one in 2008 (I later heard it called the Kentucky Corpse Reviver), and how that drink did not seem out of place at the time knowing that Brian Miller had crafted the Bourbon-for-gin 20th Century Cocktail that he dubbed the 19th Century. Here, instead of orange liqueur or crème de cacao, the liqueur was banana, and Cavendish is the current banana varietal in markets after the Gros Michel banana got wiped out by a fungal disease that began in the 1950s. In the glass, the Cavendish Corpse Reviver unpealed a lemon, caramelized banana, and anise aroma. Next, lemon, melon, and caramel notes on the sip stepped aside for Bourbon, lemon pith, cooked banana, and anise flavors on the swallow.

tequi la banane

1 1/2 oz Reposado Tequila (Cimarron)
1/2 oz Lemon Juice (3/4 oz)
1/2 oz Orgeat
1/4 oz Giffard Banana Liqueur (Tempus Fugit)
1/4 oz Passion Fruit Liqueur (Passion Fruit Syrup)

Whip shake with crushed ice, pour into a Julep cup (Tiki mug), and garnish with shaved almonds. Two Thursdays prior, I selected my copy of the Easy Tiki book to match my mood, and the Tequi La Banane by Orlando Franklin McCray at Night Moves in Brooklyn called out to me. The adapted recipe utilized banana and passion fruit liqueurs to replace the infusions prepared at the bar. Banana with passion fruit flavors in cocktails dates back to the 1930s such as in the New Victoria from the 1937 Café Royal Cocktail Book, and of course in more recent recipes such as Commando Life and Freak C'est Chic. Once prepared, Tequi la Banane unpeeled a passion fruit, vegetal, and almond aroma. Next, lemon and passion fruit notes on the sip ripened into caramel, vegetal, passion fruit, and banana flavors on the swallow.

banana calling

1 3/4 oz Gin (Ford's)
1/2 oz Giffard Crème de Banane (Tempus Fugit)
3/8 oz Fino Sherry (Lustau Manzanilla)
3/4 oz Lemon Juice
1/4 oz Simple Syrup

Shake with ice, strain into a coupe, and garnish with a grapefruit twist (Madrusan source) or a dried banana chip (Difford's Guide) (I used a grapefruit twist). Two Mondays ago, I decided to make a recipe that I had uncovered while researching The Clash cocktail biopic that I published in October called the Banana Calling. The recipe was crafted by Cameron Attfield at Dandelyan in London 2018 as a riff on Chris Jepson's 2002 London Calling cocktail that I featured in my article. While both the The Madrusan Cocktail Companion and Difford's Guide both had the recipe, I used the spec from the former and the history from the latter. The latter summed up the drink as, "This short, sharp cocktail is best described as a Fino & Banana Gin Sour. The Fino and banana notes are subtle, so subtle that it is not obviously a banana cocktail, although the name should serve as a clue." In the glass, the Banana Calling gave forth a pink grapefruit and floral bouquet to the nose. Next, lemon and caramel notes on the sip sung out to gin, lemon pith, minerality, and a touch of cooked fruit flavors on the swallow.

tropicale

3/4 oz Jamaican Dark Rum (Coruba)
3/4 oz Campari
1/2 oz Sweet Vermouth (Giacomo Speroni)
3/8 oz Oloroso Sherry (Lustau Amontillado)
1 tsp Giffard Crème de Banane (Tempus Fugit)

Stir with ice, strain into an old fashioned glass with ice, and garish with an orange wedge (orange twist). Two Saturdays ago, I returned to The Madrusan Cocktail Companion and opted for the Tropicale by Lorenzo Antinori at Bar Leone in Hong Kong from the Negroni section. It was a different drink from the similarly named Negroni Tropicale that took things in a passion fruit and citrus direction. As a Kingston Negroni with sherry and banana accents, the Tropicale began with orange oil, caramel, nutty sherry, and dried fruit aromas. Next, caramel and grape notes on the sip ripened into funky rum, nutty, bitter orange, and tropical flavors on the swallow.

petty crime

1 oz Smith & Cross Rum
3/4 oz Fernet Branca
3/4 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Crème de Banane (Tempus Fugit)
1/2 oz Orgeat

Whip shake with crushed ice, pour into an old fashioned glass (Tiki mug), top with crushed ice, and garnish with mint sprigs. Two Sundays ago, I rediscovered an old screenshot of a friend on Instagram posting a bitter tropical drink called Petty Crime, and I decided that it was perfect for the evening's nightcap. The recipe was created by Jon & Siobhan of SubtleTiki and was posted on both their Instagram and their blog. The Fernet-rum Daiquiri aspect of it reminded me of the Tar Pit, and the orgeat-banana duo appeared in the Brightside, Banana Hammock, and other drinks and is one that I utilized in my Escape from Monkey Island. Once prepared, the Petty Crime launched off with mint, banana, and rum funk aroma. Next, a creamy lime and caramel sip developed into funky rum, banana, nutty, and bitter menthol flavors on the swallow.

ends of the earth

2 oz Añejo Tequila (Cimarron Reposado)
1/2 oz Giffard Crème de Banane (Tempus Fugit)
1/2 oz Amaro Nardini

Stir with ice, strain into an old fashioned glass with a large ice cube, and garnish with an orange twist. Two Fridays ago, I returned to the KindredCocktails database to make the Ends of the Earth by user Applejack from Chicago in 2019. Overall, the combination reminded me of the Away Colors with añejo tequila and Amaro Nardini in place of the añejo rum and Fernet. Once mixed, it greeted the nose with an orange, caramel, and banana aroma. Next, the amaro and liqueur's caramel notes filled the sip, and the drink progressed into vegetal, caramel, cooked banana, and herbal flavors on the swallow.

great minds

2 oz Rittenhouse Rye
1 oz Luxardo Bitter Bianco
1/2 oz Orgeat
1/4 oz Giffard Crème de Banane (Tempus Fugit)
2 dash Angostura Bitters

Stir with ice, strain into a double old fashioned glass with ice cubes (large cube), and garnish with a spritz of Nux Alpina (drops of Russo Nocino). Two Thursdays prior, I looked over the recipes that I had saved from online recipe flashcards from The Violet Hour in Chicago, and I selected the Great Minds from their Fall 2021 menu. I was able to find a Yelp drink photo from November 2021 to confirm the date and serve. The rye, orgeat, and banana combination was one that I enjoyed in a citrus-driven one, the Bright Side, but here it was with a substantial amount of Bitter Bianco and no juice. With the walnut liqueur garnish to complement the orgeat, the Great Minds began with a nutty bouquet. Next, a creamy sip developed into rye, bitter herbal, almond, banana, and allspice flavors on the swallow.

a scotsman in paradise

2 oz Famouse Grouse Scotch (Famous Grouse Smoky Black)
3/4 oz Giffard Crème de Banane (Tempus Fugit)
1 tsp St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram (Hamilton's)
3/4 oz Lime Juice
3/4 oz Pineapple Juice
1/2 oz Coco Lopez Cream of Coconut

Whip shake with crushed ice, pour into a double old fashioned, fill with crushed ice, and garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.Two Mondays prior, I searched KindredCocktails for cream of coconut recipes when I landed upon the A Scotsman in Paradise by Seattle bartender Scott Diaz circa 2015. One of my friends on Instagram commented how there are not a lot of "Scotch Tiki", and I replied that there were only around a half dozen including the Cocoanut Grove Cooler and the Starboard Light on the blog. Of all the recipes, Backbar's Passport Painkiller that was primarily a Scotch base came closest to this one given the coconut and allspice elements. Once mixed, A Scotsman in Paradise approached with a coconut and woody spice aroma. Next, a creamy, lime, pineapple, and caramel sip transformed into smoky Scotch, coconut, banana, and allspice flavors on the swallow.

social vampire

1 oz Banhez Mezcal (Peloton de la Muerte)
1 oz Brandy Sainte Louise (Courvoisier VS)
1/2 oz Punt e Mes
1/2 oz Giffard Banane du Bresil (Tempus Fugit)

Stir with ice and strain into an old fasioned glass.Two Fridays ago, I uncovered a set of online recipe flashcards for the Chumley House in Fort Worth, Texas, and I was attracted to the Social Vampire that I was able to find on their March 2025 menu. The Social Vampire has the brandy-mezcal combination accented with Punt e Mes that the 1910 Cocktail does except with banana instead of Maraschino liqueur. Moreover, the banana liqueur-Punt e Mes duo worked excellently in the Banana Manhattan with rum as a base spirit, so I was excited to try it here. In the glass, the Social Vampire sought out the nose with vegetal, fruity, and smoke aromas. Next, caramel and grape notes on the sip drained into Cognac richness, vegetal, bitter herbal, banana, and smoke flavors on the swallow.

feet first in the deep end

1 oz Evan Williams Bonded Bourbon
1/2 oz Moderately Aged Rum (Doorly's 12 Year)
1/2 oz Light Aged/Filtered Rum (Privateer Tres Aromatique)
3/8 oz Tempus Fugit Crème de Banane
1/8 oz Amaro Abano
1 dash Angostura Bitters

Stir with ice, strain into a double old fashioned with a large ice cube, and garnish with oils from both a lemon twist and an orange twist. Continuing on with my revisiting my well worn in Tiki books, I grabbed my copy of Minimalist Tiki book by Matt Pietrek and Carrie Smith. There, I encountered the Feet First in the Deep End by Shelby Allison and Erin Hayes at Lost Lake in Chicago that I had previously skipped over for I did not have Amaro Abano until 2022 yet had exhausted the other recipes a few years after it was published in 2015. In the glass the Feet First in the Deep End welcomed the senses with orange, lemon, caramel, and rum aromas. Next, caramel notes on the sip flowed into Bourbon, rum, banana, clove, and allspice flavors on the swallow.