Banana Republic Recipe

Banana Rum Cocktail

1. 1

   Prepare ingredients: peel the ripe banana and measure all liquids. Chill a coupe or rocks glass in the freezer for 5–10 minutes if desired.

2. 2

   Muddle and Combine

   In a cocktail shaker, add the peeled ripe banana and the simple syrup. Using a muddler (or the back of a spoon), gently muddle the banana until it becomes a smooth purée with no large chunks. Add the dark rum, banana liqueur, orange curaçao (if using), fresh lime juice, heavy or coconut cream, and two dashes of Angostura bitters to the shaker.

3. 3

   Shake with Ice

   Add the ice to the shaker (about 1 cup cubed). Secure the shaker lid and shake vigorously for 15–20 seconds. You want the drink well chilled, the banana fully integrated, and the cream slightly aerated for a silky texture.

4. 4

   Double Strain

   Remove the chilled glass from the freezer. Double strain the cocktail into the glass using both the shaker strainer and a fine-mesh strainer or tea strainer to catch pulp and ice shards. If you prefer a fuller texture, you can single strain.

5. 5

   Garnish and Serve

   Garnish with a banana slice on the rim and a light pinch of grated nutmeg or cinnamon on top. Serve immediately.

6. 6

   Notes

   If you prefer a frozen version: combine the banana, all liquids, and 1–1.5 cups of crushed ice in a blender and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust sweetness with more simple syrup if needed. For a lighter drink, substitute half the dark rum with aged light rum or reduce heavy cream to 15 ml.