The classic White Russian cocktail is made with vodka, Kahlúa, and cream. It’s simple, delicious, and tastes a little bit like iced coffee.
Table of Contents
Recipe ingredients
Ingredient notes
- Kahlúa: Or substitute any coffee-flavored liqueur such as Tia Maria or Bailey’s espresso.
- Heavy cream: Or substitute milk, half and half, or a cream liqueur.
Step-by-step instructions
- In an Old Fashioned glass filled to the top with ice, add vodka and Kahlúa.
- Using a bar spoon, stir until well incorporated, about 10 seconds. Top with heavy cream.
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: This recipe makes 1 cocktail.
- Glassware: The White Russian is traditionally made in an Old Fashioned glass, a 6-ounce to 10-ounce glass tumbler. Similar to a rocks glass or lowball glass, the Old Fashioned glass is usually decorated in the cut glass style.
- Big batch: To make a batch of 8 cocktails, combine 16 ounces (2 cups) vodka, 8 ounces (1 cup) Kahlúa, and 8 ounces (1 cup) heavy cream in a pitcher. Have ice and glassware on hand so guests can help themselves.
- Black Russian: Omit the heavy cream.
- Mudslide: Substitute Irish cream for the heavy cream, add a drizzle of chocolate sauce to the inside of the glass, and garnish the drink with chocolate shavings.
- Dirty Russian: Substitute chocolate camel’s milk for the heavy cream.
- White Cuban: Substitute rum for the vodka.
- Anna Kournikova: Substitute skim milk for the heavy cream.
- Colorado Bulldog: Add a splash of cola.
- Hot: Add hot coffee for a hot drink on a cold day.
- Cold: Substitute ice cream for the heavy cream for a chilly cocktail.
- Shaken: Some prefer the cocktail shaken so the cream is blended with the other ingredients.
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White Russian
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka (¼ cup)
- 1 ounce Kahlúa (2 tablespoons, see note 1)
- 1 ounce heavy cream (2 tablespoons, see note 2)
Instructions
- In an Old Fashioned glass filled to the top with ice, add vodka and Kahlúa. Using a bar spoon, stir until well incorporated, about 10 seconds. Top with heavy cream.
Notes
- Kahlúa: Or substitute any coffee-flavored liqueur such as Tia Maria or Bailey’s espresso.
- Heavy cream: Or substitute milk, half and half, or a cream liqueur.
- Yield: This recipe makes 1 cocktail.
- Glassware: The White Russian is traditionally made in an Old Fashioned glass, a 6-ounce to 10-ounce glass tumbler. Similar to a rocks glass or lowball glass, the Old Fashioned glass is usually decorated in the cut glass style.
- Big batch: To make a batch of 8 cocktails, combine 16 ounces (2 cups) vodka, 8 ounces (1 cup) Kahlúa, and 8 ounces (1 cup) heavy cream in a pitcher. Have ice and glassware on hand so guests can help themselves.
- Black Russian: Omit the heavy cream.
- Mudslide: Substitute Irish cream for the heavy cream, add a drizzle of chocolate sauce to the inside of the glass, and garnish the drink with chocolate shavings.
- Dirty Russian: Substitute chocolate camel’s milk for the heavy cream.
- White Cuban: Substitute rum for the vodka.
- Anna Kournikova: Substitute skim milk for the heavy cream.
- Colorado Bulldog: Add a splash of cola.
- Hot: Add hot coffee for a hot drink on a cold day.
- Cold: Substitute ice cream for the heavy cream for a chilly cocktail.
- Shaken: Some prefer the cocktail shaken so the cream is blended with the other ingredients.
Thanks for sharing how to make this wonderful drink. I used to buy these drinks for the Cuties at the bar. But, now, I have a reason to ask me Lady Friends home. Thanks, Culinary Hill …