banana hammock margarita
The splash of wave crests against the shoreline and a cold drink in hand. That’s the vibe from now forth.
Happy Friyay, folks! It’s fucking MAY, can you believe that? 2026 is almost halfway through, and Cinco de Mayo is on Tuesday. Wut.
As much as the coziness of fall and winter speak to a largely dormant part of my soul, I’ve been craving sunshine, sweat, and sea water. I ebb and flow between loving the beach and feeling indifferent, and this year is definitely the former. I spend a lot of time outside in general with running, but that’s nearly always in the dark – I want sunshine, and to give myself permission to be a little lazy sometimes.
This Banana Hammock Margarita is meant for slow days lounging outdoors, on the patio or by the pool. Crisp, refreshing, and fun, easy to drink and very pleasing for your Cinco celebrations. Even if that celebration is a quiet evening alone. Homemade banana syrup chills with tequila, orange liqueur, and a touch of lime.
One of my more unique drink offerings of late, and I think you’ll quite love it!
Ba Ba Ba Ba-Na-Nana
For the banana syrup, you’ll want a fairly ripe banana to get as much natural sweetness as possible. Think speckly and soft, but definitely not liquid banana. Shit gets weird then.
Slice up the banana and toss into a sauce pot with sugar and water. Simmer gently for 10-12 minutes, enough time to let the banana soften further and infuse the syrup with its flavor. Pull the pan off the heat and stir in a touch of vanilla, then strain the banana mush from the liquid and discard the former.
Leftover banana syrup will keep for up to a week in the fridge. Give it a shake before using. Tip: it’s pretty rad in a morning latte!
Now, mix up the drink. I like to brush the rim of my cocktail glass in honey and dip into a bed of coarse sugar for a nice little sparkle. Lime or cinnamon sugar would be great, too.
Add to a cocktail shaker some tequila, banana syrup, orange liqueur, and lime juice. Shake with ice until cold, then pour into your glass. Top off with a good splash of coconut sparkling water, an extra little tropical touch.
For garnish, I love those gaudy little umbrella cocktail picks. They remind me of vacation. You can also add a little lime wheel to the rim if you wish, too!
As always, keeping it brief and timely for your Friday. Cheers and happy weekend!
Tried this recipe out? Leave a rating and comment below with your thoughts, and don’t forget to come say hi on Instagram and show me what you made!
Cinco de drinko:
banana hammock margarita
Ingredients
- 2 oz tequila
- 1 1/2 oz banana syrup (recipe below)
- 1/2 oz Cointreau (orange liqueur)
- 1/2 oz lime juice
- coconut sparkling water, to top
- umbrella cocktail picks, for garnish (optional)
banana syrup
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 ripe banana, sliced
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, banana, and 2/3 cup of water. Bring to a simmer and heat for 10-12 minutes, stirring and mashing the banana occasionally. Move the pan off the heat and stir in the vanilla. Strain the solids from the syrup, squeezing the balls off the banana to get as much liquid out as possible. Leftover syrup will keep in the fridge for up to a week.
- For the rim, add 1 tablespoon coarse sugar onto a shallow plate. Brush the rim of your cocktail glass with honey, then dip and swirl in the sugar to coat. Add ice to the glass.
- In a shaker, combine the tequila, banana syrup, Cointreau, and lime juice. Fill with ice and shake until cold. Pour into your prepared cocktail glass. Top with a few splashes of coconut sparkling water.
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