What Is a Springbokkie? The South African Cocktail Explained
A springbokkie is a South African layered shot of green creme de menthe and Amarula cream, named for the Springbok colours. Here is what it is. For adults 18 and over.
African Stores Editorial Team
The short answer
A springbokkie is a popular South African layered shooter, or shot, made with green creme de menthe (a mint liqueur) on the bottom and Amarula cream liqueur floated on top. The green and cream layers echo the colours of the Springbok, the national rugby team, which is how the drink got its name. It is a festive party drink, poured at braais and celebrations, and it is strictly for adults of legal drinking age. In the UK the two liqueurs are sold by licensed retailers, and you can find African food shops that may stock Amarula near you on African Stores.
What to remember
- A springbokkie is a South African layered shot, an alcoholic drink for adults 18 and over.
- It is made with green creme de menthe on the bottom and Amarula cream liqueur floated on top.
- The green and cream colours echo the Springbok, South Africa's national rugby team.
- It is a festive drink served at braais, parties and celebrations.
- Amarula is a cream liqueur, so a springbokkie contains dairy and alcohol.
Few drinks say celebration in South Africa quite like a springbokkie. Bring out a bottle of Amarula and some green creme de menthe at a braai or a party and the little green and cream shots start appearing, a nod to the beloved Springbok rugby team in a glass. For South Africans living in Britain, that pairing of colours is instantly recognisable, a small, cheerful reminder of home, of match days, and of long summer evenings around the fire with friends and family.
There is real warmth in it, the way a springbokkie is something you share rather than sip alone, passed around at the good moments. It carries the easy, sociable spirit of a South African gathering, where food, drink and company all belong together. To pour a round for friends abroad is to bring a little of that celebration with you, enjoyed sensibly and in good company, as these things are meant to be.
What a Springbokkie Actually Is
A springbokkie is a layered shooter, a small two-layer shot built from two liqueurs. The bottom layer is green creme de menthe, a sweet, bright green mint liqueur, and floated carefully on top of it is Amarula, a smooth South African cream liqueur made from the fruit of the marula tree. The result is a striking two-tone shot: vivid green below, pale cream above. The name comes from those colours, which echo the green and gold associated with the Springboks, South Africa's national rugby team, and springbokkie is an affectionate Afrikaans diminutive, a little springbok.
It is, first and foremost, an alcoholic drink, and one strictly for adults of legal drinking age. The flavour is sweet and dessert-like, cool mint from the creme de menthe meeting the caramel, vanilla and fruit notes of the Amarula cream. It is not a sophisticated sipping cocktail so much as a fun, festive party shot, the kind of thing poured for a toast or a celebration. It sits happily alongside the sociable, generous spirit of South African food and the gatherings it is served at.
How a Springbokkie Is Made and Served
Making a springbokkie is all about the layers. You pour the green creme de menthe into a shot glass first, filling it partway, then gently float the Amarula on top so the two stay separate. The classic trick for layering is to pour the cream liqueur slowly over the back of a small spoon held just above the surface, which lets it settle into a distinct top layer rather than mixing straight in. Done well, you get that clean two-tone look, green on the bottom and cream on top, which is the whole point of the drink.
A springbokkie is served cold, as a single shot, and it is very much a social drink. You will see it poured in rounds at braais, birthdays, rugby gatherings and parties, shared among friends for a toast rather than drunk on its own. Because Amarula is a cream liqueur, the shot is rich and smooth, almost like a boozy little dessert. As with any alcoholic drink, a springbokkie is for adults 18 and over, and it is best enjoyed responsibly and in moderation, one shared with good food and good company rather than rushed.
Why the Springbokkie Is a South African Favourite
The springbokkie is loved in South Africa because it brings two things together that South Africans hold dear: a fondness for Amarula, one of the country's best known drinks, and a deep pride in the Springboks. Serving a shot that mirrors the team's colours turns an ordinary round of drinks into a little show of that pride, which is why it is such a natural fit for match days and celebrations. It is cheerful, easy to make and instantly recognisable.
That festive, shareable character is really the heart of it. A springbokkie is not about the drink alone but about the moment, the toast, the gathering, the sense of occasion at a braai or a party. It captures the sociable, celebratory side of South African life in a single small glass, which is exactly why it has stayed a firm favourite. Enjoyed responsibly, and only by those of legal drinking age, it is a fun part of a South African get-together.
Where to Buy Springbokkie Ingredients in the UK
A springbokkie is easy to put together at home, and you only need two things: green creme de menthe and Amarula cream liqueur. Both are alcoholic and are sold by licensed retailers to customers aged 18 and over, so you will find them at off-licences, supermarkets with a drinks aisle and specialist spirits shops. Amarula, being a South African product, is often stocked by shops that serve African communities, and creme de menthe is a common bar-cabinet liqueur that is widely available. You can find African food stores near you to see what is nearby, keeping in mind that alcohol is sold only to those of legal drinking age. Please enjoy any springbokkie responsibly.
Frequently asked questions
What is a springbokkie?
A springbokkie is a South African layered shooter, or shot, made with green creme de menthe on the bottom and Amarula cream liqueur floated on top. The green and cream colours echo the Springbok, South Africa's national rugby team, which gives the drink its name. It is a festive, alcoholic party drink for adults of legal drinking age, popular at braais and celebrations.
Why is it called a springbokkie?
It is named after the Springbok, South Africa's national rugby team, because its two layers, bright green creme de menthe below and pale Amarula cream on top, echo the colours associated with the team. Springbokkie is an affectionate Afrikaans diminutive meaning little springbok, which suits the small shot glass it is served in.
How do you make a springbokkie?
Pour green creme de menthe into a shot glass first, then gently float Amarula cream liqueur on top, ideally poured slowly over the back of a small spoon so the two form separate layers. Serve it cold as a single shot. It contains alcohol and dairy, so it is for adults 18 and over, and it should be enjoyed responsibly.
What does a springbokkie taste like?
A springbokkie is sweet and dessert-like, with cool, fresh mint from the green creme de menthe and rich caramel, vanilla and fruit notes from the Amarula cream. Because Amarula is a cream liqueur, the shot is smooth and creamy, a little like a boozy dessert in a glass rather than a sharp or bitter drink.
Where can I buy springbokkie ingredients in the UK?
The two liqueurs, green creme de menthe and Amarula, are alcoholic and are sold by licensed retailers to customers aged 18 and over, including off-licences, supermarkets and spirits shops. Amarula is often stocked by shops serving African communities. African Stores lists African and Caribbean food shops across the UK, so you can find one near you that may carry it, remembering that alcohol is sold only to those of legal drinking age.
