Springbok Cocktail Recipe
A two-layer South African shooter — bright green mint under a band of cream liqueur — poured to match the green and gold of the national sporting colours.
- Category: Popular
- Glass: Old fashioned glass
- ABV: 20%
- Difficulty: Medium
- Prep time: ~3 min
Ingredients
- Green crème de menthe20 ml (0.7 oz)
- Amarula cream liqueur20 ml (0.7 oz)
How to Make It
- Chill both bottles well — cold liqueurs layer far more cleanly.
- Pour the green crème de menthe into a small shot glass.
- Float the Amarula on top over the back of a bar spoon, going slowly so the layers stay separate.
- Serve at once and drink in one go, before the colours bleed together.
Garnish
None — the two clean layers are the whole point
What it tastes like
The sweetness is pronounced, mint leaves a cooling finish and the texture is creamy.
The technique
Layering. The liqueurs sit on each other by sugar density — the sweetest one goes in first, at the bottom. Each layer is poured slowly over the BACK of a bar spoon so it spreads instead of punching through. Rush it and the layers fold together, and there is no fixing that.
Glass and ice
A heavy-bottomed, wide old fashioned glass. Wide enough for one large cube, which is the point: a big cube has less surface area, so the drink gets cold without getting watery.
Ingredient notes and substitutes
- Green crème de menthe
- A sweet mint liqueur; the green comes from colouring and it tastes the same as the white one. If the colour does not matter, white crème de menthe is an exact swap.
- Amarula cream liqueur
- A cream liqueur from South Africa's marula fruit; fruitier and less cocoa-driven than Baileys. Irish cream stands in, giving a sweeter and creamier result.
The Story
Named for South Africa's national animal and the green-and-gold sporting colours that carry its name, the shooter layers green crème de menthe under Amarula, the marula-fruit cream liqueur made in the country's north.
Frequently asked questions
- How is a Springbok mixed?
- It is layered and served in an old fashioned glass.
- How strong is a Springbok?
- Roughly 20% ABV as served — in fortified-wine territory — plan it as a single drink.
- Can a Springbok be made without alcohol?
- Simply leaving the spirit out does not work — the body and the bitterness go with it. The 86 alcohol-free recipes in the catalogue are built to hit that balance from the start.
- Is a Springbok hard to make?
- Moderate. A shaker or mixing glass plus a strainer covers it.
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Alcoholic drink recipes are intended for those aged 18 and over. Please drink responsibly.