Elephant Gin Coffee Liqueur: When Gin Meets Ethiopia
The German spirit is enriched with cold brew Ethiopian coffee for a liqueur that challenges the conventions of after-dinner drinks.
The after-dinner ritual has found a new protagonist. From the encounter between German distilling tradition and Ethiopian coffee beans comes Elephant Gin Coffee Liqueur, a 25% ABV liqueur that challenges the conventions of Italian after-dinner drinks. It's not your average amaro, it's not a classic coffee liqueur: it's something different, born from a collaboration between Elephant Gin and a small Berlin coffee roaster.
The project was born from the encounter between three elements: Elephant Aged Gin as a base, cold-infused Ethiopian coffee, and a coffee distillate. The result is a liqueur that plays on notes of cane sugar, nougat, and cranberry, obtained through vacuum distillation to preserve the volatile aromas of the beans.
The German Approach to African Coffee
Behind this liqueur is Elephant Gin GmbH, a German company founded by Tessa and Robin Gerlach after their experiences in Africa. For this edition, they collaborated with Conciege Coffee, a small Berlin roaster specializing in quality coffee.
Vacuum distillation—more complex than traditional methods—allows working at lower temperatures, preserving the coffee's organoleptic characteristics. This process costs more but guarantees a cleaner, more defined aromatic profile.
Taste put to the test
The roasted notes of coffee immediately emerge on the nose, balanced by the sweetness of the aged gin. The palate is bold but not aggressive: the Ethiopian coffee presents its characteristic acidity, softened by the alcohol base and sweet notes. The finish is long, with an aftertaste reminiscent of nougat and a slight astringency that invites another sip.
At 25% ABV, it sits somewhere in between: strong enough to be more than just a sweet liqueur, but smooth enough to be drunk neat without ice.
The sustainability factor
Like all Elephant Gin products, 15% of profits go to African elephant conservation projects through the Elephant Gin Foundation. This detail doesn't impact the taste, but it can influence the purchasing decisions of consumers who are increasingly aware of the social impact of brands.
Versatility of use
It works well neat, at room temperature, or slightly chilled. On the rocks, it loses some complexity but gains in drinkability. It's also an interesting ingredient in cocktails, where it can replace classic coffee liqueurs with a more complex profile.
- 60 ml of Elephant Coffee Liqueur
- 30 ml of Espresso
Preparation: Pour the two ingredients into a shaker with plenty of ice. Shake vigorously, strain through a sieve, and pour into a martini glass. Garnish with a few coffee beans, if desired.