White Russian
A creamy and coffee vodka cocktail ∙ Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 20.5% ABV ∙
The White Russian is vodka and coffee liqueur stirred and strained over ice, with single cream or half-and-half floated on top.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir the first 2 ingredients with ice: Vodka 60 mlCrème de Café liqueur 30 ml
- Strain into the ice-filled glass
- Carefully float Single cream/half-and-half 30 ml
- Garnish with grated nutmeg
Tips
- Pour the cream slowly over the back of a bar spoon so it floats as a distinct layer on top of the drink.
History
The White Russian's earliest documented appearance is a 1965 newspaper insert: the Oakland Tribune printed a simple recipe on November 21, 1965, calling for equal parts vodka, cream, and "Southern," a short-lived coffee liqueur then sold under the Southern Comfort brand. Its precise inventor and the reasoning behind the name were never recorded, and, like the Black Russian, it has no real Russian origin; the name simply nods to vodka as the base spirit. The drink remained a minor entry in cocktail literature for decades until a surge in popularity followed the 1998 release of the film The Big Lebowski, in which it is the character the Dude's drink of choice throughout.
The White Russian is essentially the Black Russian with cream added. The Black Russian is generally credited to Gustave Tops, a bartender at the Hotel Metropole in Brussels, who is said to have mixed it around 1949 in honor of the American ambassador to Luxembourg. The 1965 newspaper recipe is only the White Russian's first appearance in print, not the date it was created, so sources differ on whether the Black Russian or the cream-topped White Russian came first: no document ties the two together at their creation.
FAQ
What is a White Russian made of?
Vodka 60 ml, coffee liqueur 30 ml and 30 ml of single cream or half-and-half, which is floated on top.
What is the difference between a Black Russian and a White Russian?
The cream. A Black Russian is just vodka and coffee liqueur; a White Russian floats cream on top, which makes it richer and more like a dessert.
Is a White Russian a strong drink?
Yes, it is stronger than its creamy texture suggests, at about 20.5% ABV. Vodka is the largest pour, and the cream softens the taste without cutting much of the alcohol.
Can you use milk instead of cream in a White Russian?
You can, but milk is thinner, so it tends to mix into the drink instead of floating as a separate layer. Half-and-half, which this recipe allows, is thinner than heavy cream but still holds its layer better than milk.
Is Kahlúa or Baileys better for a White Russian?
Kahlúa, or another coffee liqueur; this recipe uses a crème de café-style liqueur with separate cream. Baileys is an Irish cream liqueur, not a coffee liqueur, and it already contains cream, so it makes a different, sweeter drink.
