Tempus Fugit Creme De Banane 750ML

Tempus Fugit Creme De Banane 750ML is a 26% ABV banana liqueur made with real Ecuadorian bananas and a sugar cane distillate base, following a recreated 19th-century French recipe. It earned a remarkable 99 points from Tastings.com and received 5 Stars from F. Paul Pacult's Spirit Journal, placing it among the most critically acclaimed banana liqueurs available today.

Quick Facts: ABV: 26% (52 proof)  |  Origin: London, United Kingdom  |  Style: Crème Liqueur  |  Producer: Tempus Fugit LLC

Production & Heritage

Tempus Fugit LLC built its reputation by painstakingly recreating classic European liqueurs using historic 19th-century protocols, cross-referencing original recipes in several languages. For this expression, perfectly ripened bananas sourced from small family farms in Ecuador are macerated in sugar cane distillate, then filtered and sweetened — with no artificial flavors or colors at any stage. The recipe specifically aims to capture the flavor profile of the Gros Michel banana, a nearly extinct variety that dominated global markets before the 1950s and carried a far more complex, aromatic character than the Cavendish bananas found in grocery stores today.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe banana leads immediately, followed by caramel, warm vanilla spice, and a deeper layer of molasses and brown bread. There is a tobacco-like richness underneath that signals the complexity ahead.

Taste: The entry is dense and full-bodied, dominated by intense ripe banana and brown sugar. At mid-palate, cocoa powder, dried figs, coconut cream, and baking spice emerge. The peak delivers chocolate-covered banana and raw vanilla alongside black raisin sweetness, all balanced so the sugar never overwhelms.

Finish: Long, sweet, and creamy, trailing off with banana bread, toffee, and a suggestion of malted chocolate. A lingering note reminiscent of banana ice cream gives it an indulgent, dessert-like close.

How to Drink Creme De Banane

Sipped neat at room temperature, this liqueur rewards with its full aromatic complexity — a small pour after dinner makes a satisfying digestif on its own. It also transforms cocktails that call for banana liqueur into something notably more layered.

• Bananas Foster Cocktail: The deep brown sugar and toffee notes mirror the classic New Orleans dessert, adding authentic depth alongside dark rum and cinnamon.
• Dirty Banana: Its real-banana intensity and cocoa undertones elevate this blended cocktail beyond versions made with synthetic alternatives.
• Yellow Bird: The rum-friendly sugar cane base integrates seamlessly with white rum, Galliano, and lime juice, while the Gros Michel-style banana character adds tropical richness.

Best For

• Bartenders and home mixologists upgrading from mass-market banana liqueurs
• Gifting a spirits enthusiast who values historically researched recipes
• After-dinner sipping alongside dessert courses
• Tiki and tropical cocktail enthusiasts seeking authentic, natural-ingredient liqueurs

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Creme De Banane taste like? It delivers a dense, full-bodied ripe banana flavor layered with brown sugar, cocoa, dried fig, and baking spice, finishing with banana bread and malted chocolate. The sweetness is present but well-balanced, never cloying.

How does Creme De Banane compare to Giffard Banane Du Bresil? Both are respected by professional bartenders for using real bananas and avoiding artificial flavorings. Tempus Fugit leans into a darker, more complex profile inspired by the historic Gros Michel banana variety, while Giffard Banane Du Brésil tends to present a brighter, more straightforwardly fruity banana character.

Is Creme De Banane good for cocktails? It is considered an exceptional cocktail ingredient, particularly for tiki drinks and rum-based recipes where its sugar cane distillate base and deep banana flavor integrate naturally. The 26% ABV keeps it from overpowering a balanced drink.

Where is Creme De Banane made? It is produced by Tempus Fugit LLC, based in London, United Kingdom. The bananas used in production are sourced from small family farms in Ecuador.

What foods pair well with Creme De Banane? Dark chocolate truffles mirror its cocoa and banana notes. Banana bread or banana foster desserts create a natural echo. Aged cheeses like Gouda contrast its sweetness. Crêpes with caramel sauce complement the toffee finish. Coconut-based desserts harmonize with its tropical undercurrent.

What sizes does Creme De Banane come in? The standard bottle size is 750ml at 26% ABV (52 proof).

Is Creme De Banane worth the price? It positions as a premium banana liqueur, sitting well above mass-market options in both ingredient quality and critical recognition. With a 99-point Tastings.com score and 5 Stars from the Spirit Journal, it delivers a level of complexity that justifies its higher price tier for serious cocktail makers and spirits collectors alike.

Why Creme De Banane?

A 99-point score from Tastings.com and 5 Stars from F. Paul Pacult's Spirit Journal are distinctions almost unheard of for a banana liqueur — a category historically dominated by artificially flavored, neon-colored products. Tempus Fugit achieved this by going back to 19th-century French recipes and using real Ecuadorian bananas macerated in sugar cane spirit, with a deliberate goal of recreating the lost flavor of the Gros Michel banana. The result is a liqueur that functions equally well as a sipping digestif and as a transformative cocktail ingredient. For anyone who dismissed banana liqueur as a relic of 1980s bar menus, this expression is the strongest argument for reconsidering the entire category.