How to Drink Amarula

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: March 29, 2020 References

Amarula is a delicious South African liquor made of sugar, cream, and the fruit from the marula tree. This creamy and citrusy liquor tastes great on the rocks or mixed in a cocktail drink. Some of the most popular drinks include Amarula with coffee, coconut or fruit cocktails, and an Amarula milkshake. If you follow the correct steps and use the right ingredients, you can make your own Amarula-based drink right at home!

Ingredients

Amarula with Coffee

1-2 shots of Amarula
200–250 millilitres (6.8–8.5 fl oz) of coffee
Whipped cream (optional)
4-8 marshmallows (optional)
2 grams (0.071 oz) of brown sugar
2 grams (0.071 oz) of chocolate powder

Makes 1 serving.

Coconut Water or Citrus Amarula Cocktail

1 shot of Amarula
1 shot of coconut water or 1 shot of Triple Sec
2.5 ounces (71 g) of crushed ice

Makes 1 serving.

Amarula Shake

3 - 4 scoops of vanilla ice cream
1 cup (240 ml) of milk
2 shots of Amarula Cream Liqueur
Whipped cream (optional)
Chocolate syrup (optional)

Makes 1 serving.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Sipping Amarula with Ice

1
Place 3-4 ice cubes in a rocks glass. Fill a rocks glass with 3-4 large square ice cubes. If you're using smaller ice cubes, fill the glass halfway with ice.^{[1]
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- Ice will keep the Amarula chilled for a more refreshing tasting drink.
2
Fill the glass halfway with Amarula. Pour the Amarula over the ice cubes. You don't have to fill the glass to the top with the liquor.^{[2]
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3
Sip on the drink. Drink the Amarula slowly to taste all the creamy and citrusy notes in the liquor. When you run out of Amarula, you can refill the glass.^{[3]
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- As the ice cubes melt, the Amarula will become less thick.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Drinking Amarula with Coffee

1
Pour coffee into a large mug. Brew a fresh cup of coffee using a drip machine, French press, or another method. Then, pour 200–250 ml (6.8–8.5 fl oz) of coffee into a mug, filling it three-quarters of the way. This will leave enough room for the rest of the ingredients.^{[4]
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- You can also buy freshly brewed hot or iced coffee from a coffee shop.
- If you want to have an iced Amarula with coffee, let the coffee cool down before adding 3-4 ice cubes to the drink.
- If you are using a smaller mug, use less coffee.
2
Add 1-2 shots of Amarula Cream Liqueur into the coffee and stir it. Carefully pour the Amarula Cream into a shot glass or jigger. Then, pour the shot into your coffee mug. Mix the drink with a spoon to incorporate both liquids.^{[5]
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- If you want a stronger taste of Amarula in your drink, add 2 shots. If you want a more balanced coffee drink, only add 1.
- Adding too much Amarula to the coffee could overpower the taste of the drink.
3
Spray whipped cream on top of the drink. Press the button on the top of the whipped cream can to spray the whipped cream on top of the coffee. The whipped cream compliments the creaminess in the Amarula and will add sweetness.^{[6]
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- Add as much or as little whipped cream as you want.
- Fat-free whipped cream won't taste as rich as traditional whipped cream.
4
Sprinkle brown sugar and a few marshmallows on the whipped cream. Add 2 g (0.071 oz) of brown sugar and 4-8 marshmallows on top of the drink to add sweetness to the beverage. The sweet notes of the sugar balance out the bitterness of the coffee and the creaminess of the Amarula.^{[7]
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- If you don't like overly sweet coffee drinks, leave out the marshmallows.
5
Finish the drink with hot chocolate powder and serve it. The chocolate powder adds richness to the drink. Wait for the beverage to cool off before you drink it so that you don't burn your tongue if the coffee is still hot.^{[8]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Making a Coconut Water or Citrus Amarula Cocktail

1
Place 2.5 oz (71 g) of crushed ice of crushed ice into a cocktail shaker. Get pre-purchased crushed ice or crush ice yourself by grinding up ice cubes in a blender. As the ice melts, it will cut through the creaminess of the drink which makes it taste better.^{[9]
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- If you don't have a cocktail shaker, place the cubes in a tall glass instead.
2
Pour 1 shot of Amarula and 1 shot of coconut water into the shaker. Carefully measure out the Amarula and coconut water in a shot glass or jigger so that you use the proper amounts. If you'd rather have a citrus cocktail, replace the coconut water with a shot of Triple Sec instead.^{[10]
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- You can also replace the coconut water with a shot of gin if you'd rather make a martini.
- If you want an even stronger cocktail, put 2 shots of Amarula in the drink.
3
Shake the drink to incorporate all the ingredients. Vigorously shake the shaker to mix everything together and partially melt some of the crushed ice. This infuses the Amarula with the crushed ice.^{[11]
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- If you don't have a cocktail shaker, place the top of another glass into the glass with the Amarula so that it forms a seal. Then, hold both glasses together and shake the beverage to mix it.
4
Pour the drink into a martini glass and enjoy. You don't have to strain the drink because it tastes great on ice. If you used Triple Sec instead of coconut water, garnish the drink with an orange peel to finish it off.^{[12]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Creating an Amarula Shake

1
Add 3-4 scoops of vanilla ice cream and 1 c (240 ml) of milk to a blender. Use whichever brand of vanilla ice cream you prefer the most. Pour the milk into a measuring cup so that you use the correct amount. Then, pour the milk over the ice cream.^{[13]
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- If you don't have a scooper, use a large spoon instead.
2
Pour 1-2 shots of Amarula into the drink and blend it together. Measure the Amarula with a jigger or shot glass. Then, pour each shot into the blender and turn the blender on high. Keep blending the drink until the ice cream is fully incorporated with the ice and the drink is smooth.^{[14]
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3
Pour the drink into a glass and garnish it. If you want to add even more sweetness to the shake, spray some whipped cream or squeeze some chocolate syrup on top of the drink. Keep in mind that the ice cream and Amarula are already sweet, so adding more sugar will cause it to become even sweeter. Enjoy the drink while it's still cold.

Community Q&A

Question

What is the alcohol content of amarula?

Community Answer

Generally it is 17%, though that might vary depending on the brand.
Question

Once the bottle is open, does it need to be refrigerated?

Community Answer

Yes, and cover it with something, either the lid or wrap it in clingfilm. Alcohol should always be refrigerated if not being used (except red wine, which should be stored in a cupboard).