Whether it’s an evening in front of the fire or a soirée with friends, there’s nothing like a special, seasonal cocktail to get the festive vibes flowing this Christmas. Made from the fruit of the Marula tree, indigenous to sub-equatorial Africa, Amarula is rich and exotic in flavour, making it the perfect base for a luxurious Christmas tipple. So we’ve rounded up three of our favourite Amarula cocktail recipes for you to keep up your sleeve this winter, for the cosy moments and celebratory occasions alike.
1. Amarula Espresso martini
Multi-functional and magnificent tasting, the espresso martini is an all time classic cocktail. You might find it hard to believe that this iconic serve could be improved any further, but we ask that you reserve judgement until you try the Amarula Espresso Martini… the perfect drink to kickstart your festive celebratory evening! Start by dissolving 300g of caster sugar into 150ml water over a low heat to make your sugar syrup. Then shake 35ml Amarula African Gin, 25ml espresso coffee, 50ml Amarula cream liqueur, and 15ml sugar syrup over ice before double straining into a coupe and garnishing with three coffee beans.
2. Amarula Don Pedro
This traditional, uniquely South African cocktail is the perfect post-dinner drink to satisfy a sweet craving. And whilst it’s fantastically indulgent and impressive to look at, the Don Pedro is also wonderfully easy to make. Simply combine 225g vanilla ice cream, 60ml double cream, and 87ml Amarula cream liqueur in a blender and serve with grated chocolate to garnish.
3. Amarula Vegan Margarita
Margaritas might not be what immediately jumps to mind when you think of Christmas. And creamy cocktails are, more often than not, off limits for vegans. But Amarula Vegan’s rich, warm flavour is just the thing to transform this zesty drink into the perfect cocktail for a festive party – and it’s plantbased! First, add salt, sugar, and lime zest to a plate before wetting the rim of your glass and rolling it around the plate. Then shake 60ml Amarula Vegan Cream Liqueur, 60ml silver tequila, 40ml lime juice, and 50ml agave syrup over ice before double straining into a glass and garnishing with a lime wheel.