Ingredients
- 30 ml gin London Dry
- 30 ml advocaat egg yolk and brandy liqueur
- 30 ml fresh orange juice
- 30 ml cream pure or thickened
- 90 ml lemonade or soda water to top
- 1 wheel orange garnish
- 1 maraschino cherry optional, garnish
Instructions
- Fill a hurricane or tall highball glass with ice.
- Add gin, advocaat, fresh orange juice and cream to a shaker with ice.
- Shake hard for 10 to 12 seconds (the cream needs to froth).
- Strain into the prepared glass.
- Top with cold lemonade or soda water for a frothy head.
- Garnish with an orange wheel and a maraschino cherry.
Notes
Where it came from
The Fluffy Duck is an Australian and British pub cocktail that took root in the 1960s and 1970s, hitting peak popularity in the 1980s alongside other pub-pour favourites like the Snowball and the Brandy Alexander. Named for its appearance: pale yellow, fluffy white foam on top, looks like a cartoon duckling.
Two main versions exist. The Aussie pub-pour version uses gin, advocaat, OJ, cream and lemonade or soda. The British “Fluffy Duck” sometimes uses rum and Cointreau instead. The Australian one is the more enduring template and still appears on RSL menus.
Why advocaat
Advocaat is a Dutch egg yolk and brandy liqueur, thick, custard-yellow, very sweet. It was a 1960s and 1970s British and Australian household staple (often mixed with lemonade as a Snowball). In the Fluffy Duck, advocaat does the heavy lifting: it adds eggy richness, vanilla and the signature pale-yellow colour. Without it, the drink loses its character.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
The advocaat
- Use
- Warninks (the most common) or Bols Advocaat
- Skip
- Eggnog, much thinner and sweeter, doesn’t hold the same texture
- Why
- Advocaat is essentially custard with brandy. It is the soul of the drink.
The cream
- Use
- Pure cream or thickened cream
- Skip
- Light cream or milk, too thin to froth properly
- Why
- You need fat to whip up under shaking. Thin dairy goes watery.
The top
- Use
- Lemonade (Sprite, 7Up) for the classic Aussie pub version
- Try
- Soda water for a less sweet version
- Why
- Lemonade is the original; soda water is a modern lighter spin. Both work.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Eggnog plus a teaspoon of brandy gets close but is sweeter. Skip if you want a “Duck” without the eggs.
White rum makes a Bahama Mama cousin. Vodka works but loses the botanical lift.
Bottled is fine for this drink. The cream and advocaat hide most juice differences.
Coconut cream works (changes the flavour but holds the texture).
Add 15ml more gin. The drink takes the boost without much change in profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Fluffy Duck cocktail?
Gin, advocaat, fresh orange juice, cream and lemonade or soda water. Standard build is 30ml each of gin, advocaat, OJ and cream, shaken and strained into a tall glass, then topped with 90ml of lemonade. Garnished with an orange wheel and a cherry.
Why is it called a Fluffy Duck?
Named for its appearance: pale yellow with a fluffy white foam head from the shaken cream and the topped lemonade. The drink looks like a cartoon duckling. The name has been around since at least the 1960s.
What is advocaat?
Advocaat is a Dutch liqueur made from egg yolks, sugar and brandy. It looks like custard, has a vanilla and brandy flavour, and is the signature ingredient in cocktails like the Snowball, Bombardino and Fluffy Duck. Warninks is the most-sold brand worldwide.
Where is the Fluffy Duck popular?
Australia and the UK, primarily. Common on RSL Club, suburban pub and bistro menus. The Aussie version is the gin, advocaat, OJ and cream build. The British version sometimes uses rum and Cointreau. Both are called Fluffy Duck.
Is the Fluffy Duck a creamy cocktail?
Yes. The cream and advocaat give it a smooth, custardy texture. It drinks closer to an alcoholic milkshake or a light dessert cocktail than a typical highball.
How strong is a Fluffy Duck?
About 8 to 10 percent ABV in the glass. The cream, juice and lemonade dilute the spirits significantly. Tastes weaker than it is, which is the entire trap.
Can I make a Fluffy Duck without advocaat?
You can, but it stops being a Fluffy Duck. Eggnog with a splash of brandy is the closest substitute. Without the egg yolk and vanilla character, the drink loses its identity.
What food goes with a Fluffy Duck?
Light desserts: pavlova, lemon tart, vanilla ice cream, fruit salad. Also works as a brunch drink with French toast or pancakes.
