Jacked Up Monkey Martini

If I'm in the mood for bourbon, it's usually Maker's Mark I steer towards. And regardless, using bourbon as a martini base in anything but a Manhattan is unusual to most people, but I like to stray of the beaten path now and then. ;) So when I heard of someone playing around with Jack Daniels and Banana Schnapps, I was quite intrigued.

The banana schnapps is almost overpowering in its flavor (like butterscotch), so I played around with a few combinations to bring down the sweetness and add more depth to the cocktail. As a bonus, the sour pineapple juice lends almost the perfect color for a true banana cocktail.

Unlike my first banana martini, this drink highlights the banana flavor and has a blend of complex spice aftertaste that compliments wonderfully. This will be one of my new favorites.

• 3 oz Jack Daniels Bourbon
• 1 oz Banana Schnapps
• 1/2 oz Galliano
• 1 oz Pineapple Juice
• Banana Slice

Chill an up glass with crushed ice and water. Shake the ingredients with ice in a shaker until it sweats. Strain into the glass and garnish with a slice of banana.