Tag: FluffyBanana

Posted on

Fluffy Banana More Popular Than Mai Tai

During our staycation weekend we had two late visits to Smuggler’s Cove, finding it full but not overly packed to enjoy the myriad cocktails the venue is famous for. We tried some old favorites including the Hibiscus Punch and a Mai Tai of course.

I don’t exactly take precise attendance but we do take mental notes on what people are drinking when we go out. Often it is the venue’s signature cocktail or it might be the latest cocktail fad (hello, Espresso Martini), and at a tiki bar it’s often the Mai Tai. But during our visits to Smuggler’s Cove it was easy to see which drink it seemed like everyone was drinking, and it wasn’t the Mai Tai.

The memo is out in San Francisco, and sure seems like SC’s most popular drink is Dr. Barca’s Fluffy Banana.

Dane Barca‘s original cocktail featuring cachaca and banana has moved from cult favorite to mainstream awareness because every “normie” we saw seemed to be carrying one of them around. Mrs Mai Tai always gets this and joined the crowd both nights, and it’s easy to see why everyone loves the rich flavors and foamy head, especially when Barca himself makes it for you. It’s fantastic and if you’re one of the few who haven’t tried it, well, you know what you need to do.

Update: Smuggler’s Cove replied to our Instagram post and says that the Mai Tai is the second most popular cocktail and the Fluffy Banana is number six.

Dane Barca at Smuggler’s Cove
Posted on

Dr. Barca’s Fluffy Banana

After leaving Zombie Village we kept the party going and Waymoed over to Smuggler’s Cove. We knew there would likely be a line on a Friday evening and it was no surprise we waited for around 20 minutes. Once inside we started looking for seats and were lucky to snag four at the bar as a group was leaving. This gave us great seats to watch bartender Dane Barca do his magic on the stick.

Barca is best known for his Fluffy Banana cocktail, which Mrs. Mai Tai and our friend Jessie happily ordered. She’d had this the night before and it’s her favorite here, though Barca did notify us they were out of a specific ingredient so it might not be perfect. A slightly imperfect Fluffy Banana is still really great, as we found out. Watching Barca make drink after drink on a fast and furious Friday night was quite a sight to behold.

I was driving so I limited myself to ice water, but our friend Kristi was looking for a recommendation so I suggested a Tradewinds, one of my favorite coconut cocktails that Smuggler’s does a great job with. We also ordered a Kona Cocktail that leans a little tart but is still really nice.

Just another Friday night at Smuggler’s Cove

There was so much activity inside the Cove on Friday, with many people rolling in for one round and then moving on. We were pleased to relax a bit and chat with Barca who held some conversation amidst the chaos, and he was helpful at directing patrons to the order location at the end of the bar (hey, there’s even a sign!). He even joked about seeing us on a Friday and I’m sure the lack of tiki attire was noticeable.

Dr. Barca’s Fluffy Banana by Dane Barca
¾ oz Lemon Juice
1½ oz Smuggler’s Cove Coconut Cream
1 oz Banana liqueur (Giffard)
2 oz Aged Cachaça (Avuá Amburana)
2 dashes of Angostura Bitters
4 oz of crushed ice
Flash blend for 15 seconds then double strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with grated cinnamon.