Amarula Cream Liqueur Review

Amarula
34 proof Marula fruit cream liqueur
Typical Price: Around $23 for 750ml - Buy it at Internet Wines & Spirits

Initial Thoughts: We didn't know much about Amarula when we got it, so we had to begin by judging it by the bottle itself. It comes in a swanky-looking shaped brow bottle, done up in gold labeling with a charging elephant on the front. We figured that was a good start. When we read that it was a liqueur made from "fresh cream and the unique fruit of the Marula tree," our first question was, "What's a Marula?"

According to the Amarula site, it's a tree that only grows on the plains of Africa, and its fruit is often enjoyed by elephants, which munch away on the berries whenever they get a chance. In fact, the berries are known to drive elephants a bit mad because they can ferment a bit after lying on the ground. So we know the Marula is good for getting elephants drunk (a sight we'd love to see), but how does a liqueur made from it measure up? Find out after the jump.

According to the bottle, Amarula offers a "captivating and exotic" flavor, offering hints of caramel, chocolate and vanilla. When we uncapped our bottle, the first thing that crossed our mind was butterscotch. In fact, as we smelled the contents of the bottle, it made us think of Werthers Originals, those little toffee candies, which isn't a bad thing at all. When we poured it over ice, the butterscotch flavor continued to coat our taste buds. There was almost no tang of alcohol with this drink, and it was reminiscent of drinking a slightly thinner milk shake.

Cocktail Recipes: We liked Amarula on the rocks, but it got to be a bit too sweet for us by the time we got to the end of our glass. So, we dug up some cocktail recipes that would cut the sweetness a bit - we really liked the French Toast and the Amarula Coffee because they tasted great and were easy to make with ingredients we had on hand. Plus, they both make for great morning drinks, for a late breakfast or brunch. If you're planning to drink later in the day, we also expect that you could make an outstanding White Russian with this stuff, substituting Amarula for the milk.

French Toast
1 1/2oz Amarula Cream
1/2oz Rum (We tried it with the Appleton V/X we reviewed recently; very tasty together)
1/2oz Milk
Combine ingredients over cracked ice in cocktail shaker. Shake and pour into a glass. Lightly dust with cinnamon and swirl with cinnamon stick or straw.

Amarula Coffee
2 parts hot coffee
1 part Amarula Cream
Pour hot coffee into a cup and top up with Amarula Cream. Optional: Garnish with grated milk chocolate.

Finishing Thoughts: We liked it over ice, but we found it to be a bit too sweet to sip in large quantities. Amarula would make for a nice, relaxing after-dinner drink/dessert replacement, as many people do with Bailey's Irish Cream. Amarula would also be a great drink for the holidays, because we can see ourselves enjoying it while basking in the glow of a fireplace. Speaking of drinking Amarula next to an open fire, you might want to think about cracking open a bottle on your next date as well...did we mention that the Marula fruit is also legendary for its aphrodisiac properties?

Learn more about elephants, the Marula tree and Amarula Cream at Amarula.co.za.

December 3, 2005

Amarula Cream Liqueur Review