The humble banana daiquiri is a good example of a drink that teeters on the balance between swill and sensational, and it all hinges on one ingredient: the banana liqueur.
Most of the stuff sold as banana liqueur is low-quality grain spirit flavored with artificial banana flavoring, the same you’d find in banana Runts candy. Yuck – it’s just terrible in drinks, and probably a major contributor to the dearth of fine banana cocktails.
Giffard’s Banane du Brésil is easily the best banana liqueur we’ve ever found, but any French liqueur will be better than Dutch or American varieties, due to stringent French laws requiring natural ingredients in fruit liqueurs. One notable exception to that rule is Pisang Ambon, a Dutch green banana liqueur with an candy-like, yet nuanced flavor profile.
