Ole Smoky Banana Pudding Cream 750ML

Ole Smoky Banana Pudding Cream 750ML is a cream liqueur built on a Tennessee corn moonshine base, bottled at 17.5% ABV (35 proof) in a 750ml bottle. It earned a Double Gold distinction at the PR%F Awards and a Platinum medal in the Liqueur category at the SIP Awards, placing it among the most decorated cream expressions on the American market.

Quick Facts: ABV: 17.5% (35 Proof)  |  Origin: Gatlinburg, Tennessee, USA  |  Cream Liqueur  |  Distillery: Ole Smoky Distillery

Production & Heritage

Ole Smoky Distillery in Gatlinburg, Tennessee holds the distinction of being the first federally licensed distillery in the history of East Tennessee, established after the state changed its distillation laws. The base spirit is a corn moonshine distilled from a mashbill of 84% corn, 8% rye, and 8% malted barley — the same grain recipe used across Ole Smoky's moonshine and whiskey lineup. For this expression, flavors inspired by the classic Southern dessert — ripe banana, vanilla wafers, and whipped cream — are blended directly into the moonshine, creating a cream liqueur that leans on an authentic spirit backbone rather than a neutral base.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe banana hits first, followed by vanilla wafer sweetness and a whiff of whipped cream. Underneath, there is a subtle cereal grain note reminiscent of granola and dried tropical fruit that nods to the corn moonshine foundation.

Taste: The entry is lush and banana-forward, landing squarely on ripe fruit and banana taffy. Mid-palate, the vanilla pudding sweetness emerges alongside circus peanut candy and milkshake richness. The corn moonshine asserts itself with a noticeable but smooth kick that keeps the sweetness from becoming cloying, maintaining a moderately sweet, medium-full body throughout.

Finish: Sweet and velvety, with lingering impressions of banana pudding, frosted banana cake, and vanilla custard. The finish runs surprisingly long for a cream liqueur, with the moonshine warmth providing a clean, interesting close.

How to Drink Banana Pudding Cream

Chilled and served neat in a small glass is the most direct way to experience the full dessert character — a brief stint in the freezer thickens the texture and rounds the sweetness. Over ice, it loosens slightly and becomes even more drinkable on warm evenings. For cocktails, try a Banana Pudding Martini (shaken with vanilla vodka and a splash of half-and-half) for a decadent after-dinner drink. It also works in a Bananas Foster Coffee, stirred into hot coffee with a dash of cinnamon, where the banana and vanilla notes complement dark roast beautifully. A Southern Cream Colada — blended with coconut cream and ice — turns it into a frozen dessert cocktail that highlights the tropical banana character.

Best For

• After-dinner sipping alongside actual banana pudding or Southern desserts
• Dessert cocktail experimentation at home
• Gifting to someone who enjoys flavored spirits and cream liqueurs
• Summer gatherings where frozen or chilled drinks are the focus

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Banana Pudding Cream taste like? It delivers a rich, unmistakable banana pudding flavor with ripe banana up front, vanilla wafer sweetness through the middle, and a creamy, moderately sweet body anchored by a detectable Tennessee moonshine warmth on the back end.

How does Banana Pudding Cream compare to RumChata? Both are cream liqueurs, but they occupy very different flavor lanes — RumChata leads with cinnamon and horchata-inspired spice on a Caribbean rum base, while Ole Smoky's expression is banana-and-vanilla-forward on a corn moonshine base at a slightly lower 17.5% ABV versus RumChata's 13.75%. Ole Smoky's version skews distinctly Southern and dessert-driven rather than spice-driven.

Is Banana Pudding Cream good for cocktails? Its thick, sweet profile makes it a natural fit for dessert cocktails, coffee drinks, and blended frozen serves, though its bold banana character works best as a lead ingredient rather than a subtle modifier.

Where is Banana Pudding Cream made? It is produced at Ole Smoky Distillery in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, situated in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains. Ole Smoky became the first federally licensed distillery in East Tennessee history.

What foods pair well with Banana Pudding Cream? Vanilla wafer cookies amplify the vanilla backbone. Chocolate brownies create a banana-chocolate contrast that works well as a dessert pairing. Fresh strawberries balance the sweetness with acidity. Pecan pie echoes the Southern dessert DNA of the spirit. Pound cake or angel food cake provides a neutral canvas that lets the banana and cream flavors take center stage.

What sizes does Banana Pudding Cream come in? The standard offering is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.

Is Banana Pudding Cream worth the price? It positions as an accessible, entry-level cream liqueur that punches above its price tier in terms of accolades — a Double Gold at PR%F Awards, Platinum at SIP Awards, and a 95-point rating from tastings.com represent unusual critical recognition for a flavored cream expression at this value level.

Why Banana Pudding Cream?

What separates this bottle from the crowded flavored cream category is its foundation: actual Tennessee corn moonshine distilled from an 84% corn mashbill, not a neutral grain spirit. That base gives it a grain-forward backbone that most cream liqueurs lack, and it shows in the finish. The award résumé — Double Gold at PR%F, Platinum and Gold at SIP, Country Winner at the World Liqueur Awards, and a 95-point rating from tastings.com — suggests the judges noticed the difference too. For anyone drawn to Southern dessert flavors in a spirit that still tastes like it came from a real distillery, this expression delivers exactly that.