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The White Russian is a delicious classic cocktail that’s often overlooked. Made with vodka, coffee liqueur, and heavy cream, it’s like sipping boozy coffee with a balancing dose of rich cream. This is a built cocktail, meaning it’s assembled in the serving glass, requiring no bar tools.
Table of Contents
Brief History
The White Russian’s predecessor, the Black Russian, was created in 1949 by Gustave Tops, a Belgian bartender at the Hotel Metropole in Brussels. The cocktail was made with vodka and coffee liqueur.
The White Russian emerged later in the 1960s, with the addition of cream. This transformed the drink into a richer, smoother cocktail. The drink’s modern fame skyrocketed in the 1990s after it was featured in the classic film “The Big Lebowski”. Jeff Lebowski (aka “The Dude”), is famously fond of White Russians and hilariously refers to them as “Caucasians.”
Also try the classic Irish Coffee and the Chocolate Espresso martini!
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Vodka: vodka is the base spirit in the White Russian. I will occasionally use vanilla vodka for a vanilla twist.
- Heavy cream: the secret to this recipe lies in the use of heavy cream, which has a higher fat content than whipping cream or half and half. I recommend you choose your dairy in that order, using half-and-half in desperation mode only.
- Coffee liqueur: I like Kahlúa since it’s easy to find. It adds balance and subtle coffee and caramel flavor.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities below.
Expert Tips
- Serve this cocktail over ice, preferably a single large ice cube.
- The White Russian is a built cocktail, meaning it is assembled right in the glass in which it’s served (double Old-Fashioned glass).
- Chill your glasses ahead of time in the freezer. This keeps your drink chilled for longer and reduces dilution.
More Dessert Cocktails
Enjoy this recipe? If you made this cocktail, please leave a ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ star rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments!
White Russian Cocktail
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka, or vanilla vodka for a twist
- 1 ounce coffee liqueur, such as Kahlúa
- 1 ounce heavy cream
Instructions
- Add vodka and coffee liqueur to a chilled old-fashioned glass filled with ice.
- Top with heavy cream and stir.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
