Whereas banana liqueur didn’t play a job in Golden Period tiki recipes, it has since carved out a agency foothold in Tiki revival classics like Pagan Idol’s Banana Life. For bartenders within the U.S. market, the 2 banana liqueurs that persistently come up in dialog are Giffard’s Banane du Brésil and Tempus Fugit’s Crème de Banane. The general consensus is that Giffard’s providing leans towards recent, ripe banana, whereas Tempus Fugit’s has a extra cooked, “Bananas Foster” profile. Whereas each are well-loved, they’re distinctly completely different beasts, sufficient to be noticeable in banana-forward recipes.
Extra just lately, France-based Spiribam entered the banana liqueur house with its Clément Bana Canne. Given the recognition of the model’s Creole Shrubb, the Bana Canne has a excessive bar to clear. Upon my request, the corporate offered me with a bottle to take a look at.
Much like the Giffard (25%) and Tempus Fugit (26%), Bana Canne is bottled at 25% ABV. Per the Clément web site, it’s:
A brand new and unique liqueur that includes bananas cultivated at Habitation Clément, seamlessly macerated with unaged rhum and a contact of pure cane syrup. A particular pure extraction from native bananas delivers vibrant aromas and flavors, specifically crafted by Clément from a novel number of semi-ripened bananas utilizing progressive, low-energy inexperienced applied sciences.
Tasting Notes
My first response upon pouring it: it’s clear! Given the yellow hue of the flamboyant bottle, I imagined it will be some shade of yellow—à la Giffard and Tempus Fugit. No factors off, right here. I used to be simply stunned.
As soon as within the mouth, recent younger banana leaps out—I daresay a contact brighter than Giffard’s banana. If then slowly fades into one thing noticeably drier (i.e., much less candy) than the others. Whereas Giffard and Tempus Fugit perform extra like syrups that include alcohol, Bana Canne delivers on its description: rhum agricole infused with banana. In case you’ve had rhum arrangé, you realize what I’m speaking about. If the Bana Canne had been only a bit larger in ABV—say, 30%—I wouldn’t be mad, however no criticism as it’s.
As to be used in cocktails, Bana Canne works fantastically in mild sours, equivalent to Daiquiris and the Ti’ Punch. However when crafting extra advanced, full-bodied tropical or tiki cocktails, in case your ratios are dialed in for Giffard or Tempus Fugit, you may wish to add a contact of two:1 easy syrup or Demerara to keep up your most popular sweet-sour stability.
To wrap up, I used to be anticipating the Bana Canne to be considerably much like Giffard’s Banane du Brésil, however they turned out to be fairly completely different; I’m A-OK with that. The (now) “huge three” banana liqueurs have distinct taste territories carved out, with drink makers benefitting from an expanded vary of flavors to select from.
