Elephant GraveyardCocktail recipe
Rating
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Elephant Graveyard is a simple, modern cream-forward drink that sits in the vodka-and-liqueur family: minimal ingredients, big comfort. You’ll find it more in the “easy indulgence” camp than the canon of long-established classics, leaning on a familiar pairing of clean spirit and rich cream liqueur to create something dessert-like without needing a long ingredient list.
On the palate, Amarula Cream brings a thick, velvety sweetness and a distinctly creamy body, while the dash of vodka quietly sharpens the edges. That small hit of vodka lifts the liqueur’s richness, keeping the finish from feeling too heavy and giving the drink a slightly drier, more spirited snap than Amarula alone.
Serve this when you want something soothing and low-fuss—after dinner, as a nightcap, or whenever you’re craving a creamy treat with a little extra bite. It’s a good fit if you like smooth, sweet drinks but still want the clean presence of vodka in the background.
Microbadges
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Cocktail Colin says:
Amarula cream dominates with lush caramel-toffee sweetness and velvety dairy richness, while the vodka dash adds a clean, neutral lift that keeps the sip from feeling overly heavy. This works because the vodka subtly thins and brightens the cream liqueur’s sweetness without competing, making it ideal for anyone craving an easy, dessert-like highball with minimal fuss.
Method
How to make a Elephant Graveyard
- Vodka Dash, Amarula Cream 60ml
-
- Pour Amarula on the rocks in a highball glass
-
- Then add a splash of vodka and serve
Power tips
Elevate the Elephant Graveyard with these master mixologist tips
Upgrade to premium
And receive world class tips on how to raise your cocktails to the next level.
Find out more- Upgrade to premium to receive power tips from top bartenders around the world. Raise you mixology game.
- Read the tweaks that take this simple cocktail to the next level of greatness. Become the next best mixologist which people all talk about.
Learn more about some of the mixology terms used in this cocktail
· Highball ·Your private tasting notes
Featured in
FAQ's
What is Amarula Cream, and how does it contribute to the taste of Elephant Graveyard?
Amarula Cream is a South African cream liqueur made from the fruit of the Marula tree. It has a rich and creamy taste with hints of caramel, vanilla, and nutty flavors. In the Elephant Graveyard cocktail, Amarula Cream gives a smooth, exotic sweetness that balances the sharpness of the vodka, creating a uniquely flavored drink.
What is the ideal way to serve the Elephant Graveyard cocktail?
The ideal way to serve an Elephant Graveyard cocktail is cold in a highball glass. Given its simplicity, there's no need for shaking or stirring. For the best experience, you can chill the glass beforehand and pour the cocktail over ice to ensure it stays cold longer, enhancing the drink's flavors.
For what type of occasion is the Elephant Graveyard cocktail best suited?
Given its exotic flavor profile and the uniqueness of Amarula Cream, the Elephant Graveyard cocktail is best suited for themed parties or gatherings, particularly those with an African or wildlife theme. It's also a great conversation starter for a cocktail party or a novel choice for a quiet evening.
How does the alcohol content of the Elephant Graveyard compare to other cream-based cocktails?
With an alcohol content of 17%, the Elephant Graveyard is moderately strong for a cream-based cocktail. Many cream liqueurs have alcohol content ranging from 15% to 20%, placing this cocktail in the lower to medium range, making it slightly lighter compared to some other popular cream-based cocktails like the White Russian.
How can I customize the Elephant Graveyard cocktail to cater to different tastes or occasions?
To cater to different tastes or occasions, consider adding a sprinkle of chocolate shavings or a dash of cinnamon on top for a sweet and spicy variation. For a fruitier twist, mixing in a splash of banana or raspberry liqueur can complement the creamy texture. Alternatively, adjusting the vodka to Amarula ratio can help in tailoring the drink's strength and flavor intensity according to personal preference.
Upgrade your mixology
Become a member for free taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. Or become a premium member to rise to cocktail greatness.
- Save your bar forever
- Access to our Cocktail Creator, allowing you to create your own wonderful concoctions.
- Access to Cocktail Colin; ask Cocktail Colin anything on an individual cocktail and he'll give you the answers you need.
- Create personalised cocktail menus for all your events, bars or parties
- Save cocktails to personalised 'Tried' and 'Want to try' lists
- Create and record tasting notes on cocktails
- Create lists of cocktails to share with friends and family
- A personalised MyBar URL, allowing you to share everything you can make with friends
- And much more ... (what to buy next, measurement choices, search personalisation...)
Have you tried our Wordpress Plugin?
Download our plugin and embed cocktail recipes directly onto your own site or blog.
Choose from our whole recipe database, or choose a specific cocktail made with a certain ingredient, and let us place a beautiful recipe on your own site.
Find out moreYou might also like
Dive into this robust mix of spirits and cola
Long Island Iced Tea
White rum, Gin, Tequila blanco, Vodka, Cointreau, Cola, Lemon juice, Sugar / simple syrup
Experience this vodka-lime and cola sensation
The BEMCo
Vodka, Lime juice, Cola, Sugar / simple syrup
Dive into this perfect espresso and vodka blend
Espresso Martini
Vodka, Coffee liqueur, Sugar / simple syrup, Coffee
Experience this refreshing cucumber-infused vodka sip
Cucumber Martini
Vodka, Lime juice, Sugar / simple syrup, Cucumber
Create a cocktail
Choose a theme and some ingredients, give us some description and we'll create an amazing cocktail for you.
Register as a Premium Make Me a Cocktail community member and get access to an even more powerful creator.
Start creatingBuild your bar
Tell us what you have at home and we’ll find a delicious cocktail for you to make right now.
Register as a Make Me a Cocktail community member and we’ll save your ingredients list so you can come back to it at any time.
Create My Bar
Cocktail Colin
Your cocktail expert
Hi! I'm Cocktail Colin
Ask me anything about this cocktail - how to make it, substitutions, variations, or any other questions!
Become a member to access Cocktail Colin
Become a member (for free) to pick Cocktail Colin's cocktail filled brain on everything on this cocktail, from substitutions, if you can use what you have, to serving suggestions and more.
Become a member
Comments