White Russian Recipe

White Russians are classic cocktails that are like dessert in a glass! Creamy, dreamy, and sugary. You may know it from the 1990’s movie The Big Lebowski, but this drink has been around since the 1950s. It’s a total treat, and couldn’t be easier to make! The White Russian is made with vodka, heavy cream, and coffee liqueur.

It’s a variation on the Black Russian, which mixes coffee liqueur and vodka.

The name “white Russian” simply refers to the cocktail’s main ingredient and color. It’s a variation of the black Russian, which is dark because of the coffee liqueur

Just skip dessert tonight and drink this instead!

Old Fashioned is a drink that takes just 2 minutes and hits the spot in any season

A classic White Russian cocktail is a drink that every bartender needs in their tool belt. Firstly, it is a cocktail made with things you like to have in your bar and fridge. Secondly, it couldn’t be more simple. And thirdly, well it basically tastes like a chocolate coffee milkshake but it gets you drunk.

INGREDIENTS:

This White Russian recipe is a three-ingredient drink that’s beyond simple to make. It’s one of those cocktails you can build in the glass: no cocktail shaker or mixing glass is required! The White Russian ingredients are:

  • 2-ounces Vodka
  • 1-ounce Coffee liqueur like Kahlua
  • 1-ounce Heavy cream or milk
  • Ice, for serving

How to Make A White Russian

  1. Add the vodka and coffee liqueur to a glass. Pour the ingredients into an old-fashioned glass, starting with the vodka, followed by the coffee liqueur.
  2. Pour in 1 ounce of heavy cream.
  3. Stir gently to get the swirl effect. Stir a White Russian vigorously and it’s a solidly beige drink. But want to get the swirl effect? Stir it gently just a few times, and the cream will swirl into the vodka and Kahlua in a beautiful pattern. It looks much more impressive!
  4. Step it up and use clear ice! Clear ice is artisanal ice that’s crystal clear, instead of cloudy like normal ice. Cut it into large, organic shapes and it looks like something you’d find at an upscale bar! It’s easy to make: all you need is 24 hours and a small cooler.

NOTE:

  1. Add the vodka and Kahlua to a lowball glass. Fill it with ice.
  2. Top with cream. Stir until cold (or stir just a bit to get the swirl effect).

Using Milk v/s Cream

Want to make a lighter version of this White Russian recipe? Use 2% milk or whole milk. Here are the pros and cons to using milk in this classic drink recipe:

  • Con: Milk makes a more watery, less nuanced drink than cream.
  • Pro: Milk makes this cocktail easier to drink since it’s not as rich and reduces calories. You also might have milk on hand more regularly than cream (it’s true for us!).

White Russian Variations

The White Russian is sweet and creamy! It works before dinner, after dinner, or anytime in between. There are several famous variations of the classic White Russian. Here are all the drinks in the family:

  • Black Russian is the original, a classic cocktail invented in 1949 with coffee liqueur and vodka
  • Mind Eraser is a layered Black Russian, topped with bubbles!
  • Colorado Bulldog is a White Russian with a splash of cola