Last week Laura infused some amazing Banana Liqueur. I even made a label for her fancy bottle and everything, so it made perfect sense to make a banana based drink today. That was the plan. That’s not quite what happened and honestly, I only have myself to blame, but we will get into that after the jump. If you would please join me now as we stand and make the Banana Farmer.

This drink was featured on The Educated Barfly, a truly wonderful website and video series hosted by Leandro DiMonriva. I have learned a ton and been inspired by his work, you should definitely check it out. Like things, subscribe to them, spread the love, you know how it is. This drink was actually created by Chase Hoffman who shared it as a way to show off a particular rum and liqueur combination, that I got half right. So my apologies to them and to you and to Laura. Let’s make it and do our scapegoating later.

Grab your tins and pop in 1 ounce of overproof rum, the recipe specified Smith + Cross and I love it, so I used it; 1 ounce of light rum, I used Cane Run 12; 1 ounce of Banana Liqueur, it called for Giffard’s, I meant to use Lady Laura’s, but like an idiot I grabbed the last of that bottle of 99 Bananas and popped it right in there. To that add 1/2 an ounce of Velvet Falernum, 3/4 of an ounce of pineapple juice and 1 ounce of freshly squeezed lime juice. Add ice and shake well to the beat of “I Guess That’s Why They Call it the Blues“ cause you can’t go wrong with Elton. Well, you could but even Nikita has a certain retro-soviet charm. When those tins are good and cold, Cold as Christmas (In the Middle of the Year), strain over pebble ice into something sexy, I went with one of Uncle Doc’s beer glasses. Garnish with some pineapple fronds, maybe a couple of caramelized banana coins on a pick, add a paper straw and serve.

Well, I have ruined another drink. Curse you and all 99 of your Bananas! The good news is, that was the last of the bottle, and I solemnly swear to never buy it again. What makes it worse, is that Laura’s liqueur is really good and it was right there, just feet away. But like a big lummox I was just running along on cruise control, being cranky about the Governor or something. Honestly, I need to buy a bottle of Giffard’s to experience it for myself, but I keep not going to the right liquor store. Well, the right liquor store for that one. I mean the stores I have been going to have been right for the things I was seeking, mostly, but they are wrong for quality banana or violet liqueurs. I will rectify this. Don’t let my folly put you off this recipe though, it is solid. I will remake it, in fact my first instinct was to remake it even though I had already shot the picture and cleaned up, but then I realized, that this one and refilling another infusion used up the rest of the rum. So I will remake it as soon as I restock Smith + Cross, which I also keep going to another wrong store for.  I can see I have a day of wandering around middle Tennessee buying random bottles from several different suppliers coming up soon.

Sometimes, you make mistakes. Own them. Put them right out on Front Street. I messed up here and my mistake made Laura’s work all for naught and ruined Chase Hoffman’s recipe. I am sorry for that, I am going to try to do better. At least I didn’t try to conceal my mistakes or make it more difficult for folks to track the repercussions of my poor judgement, that was the Governor. He may have a lovely singing voice and be the best HVAC man you ever saw, but he sure has been flip-flopping on this leadership thing. Oh well, it’s not like we need good information on our “data-driven” schools anyway. It’s enough to drive a fella to drink…99 Bananas…accidentally. Stay safe, stay hydrated and stay sane, my friends.