I Tried Cutwater’s New Banana Mudslide, and It Wasn’t Quite What I Expected
BEFORE YOU SIP
Cutwater’s Banana Mudslide packs a punch at 13% ABV, blending vodka and coffee-cream liqueur with banana and chocolate notes—but the flavor didn't quite live up to the hype.
The Banana Mudslide is one of Cutwater's latest dessert-inspired offerings, following the success of its popular White Russian.
The new canned cocktail is available as a ready-to-drink option, making it easy to enjoy a Mudslide-style cocktail without mixing one from scratch.
Back in May of this year, it was revealed that Cutwater was planning on releasing one of its most decadent flavors yet: Banana Mudslide. Cutwater White Russian is hands down my favorite from the brand, so I was really excited to learn that they were going in the dessert cocktail direction once again. Well, I finally got my hands on the latest from Cutwater and I have a lot to say about this one.
Cutwater Banana Mudslide boasts an impressive 13% ABV, and is made with vodka and coffee-cream liqueur, with balanced notes of banana and chocolate. Right off the bat, fans were going crazy over this one.
A quick scroll on social media a few weeks back, and people were declaring that it was “dangerously delicious.” So I had pretty high hopes that the Banana Mudslide was about to work its way up there with my Cutwater faves. Sadly, I was mistaken.
I first tried Cutwater Banana Mudslide unchilled, but poured into a glass with ice. From the first sip, I thought that my ice was somehow melting rapidly because it tasted just a tad watered down. It wasn’t as rich as expected for such a decadent, dessert-forward flavor. I also tried it straight out of the can, chilled with no ice, and I can confirm that the slightly watered down taste was still there.
Unfortunately, the mouthfeel of the latest offering from Cutwater wasn’t the only thing I found amiss. Maybe it’s because I love banana, especially in drinks, but I could have used more banana flavor. It seemed like a bit of an afterthought. The chocolate and coffee are the more prominent flavors, with chocolate a distant second. If they would have powered through with more chocolate and banana this one could have really been a winner for me.
Also, I know vodka is used in most Mudslides, but maybe vodka wasn’t the right spirit for the combo of chocolate and banana. Years ago, I had a rum-based drink called a Dirty Banana and it was one of the best things I’ve ever tasted. The rum really complemented the notes of banana, coffee, and chocolate.
With all of that being said, if I had to rate the new Cutwater Banana Mudslide, I’d give it a 6.5/10.
On the plus side, fall/winter is around the corner, so maybe we’ll get a new seasonal release from Cutwater. A boozy PSL from the brand would truly heal me. 🥹