White Russian Recipe
A White Russian layers vodka and coffee liqueur under a slow float of cream, giving you a dessert-smooth cocktail with a bitter coffee backbone. Build it in five minutes over ice and let the cream ribbon down through the glass.
Ingredients
- 2 ozvodka
- 1 ozcoffee liqueur
- 1 ozheavy cream
Garnish
- Nothing required, the cream float is the garnish
Equipment: Rocks glass, jigger, bar spoon
Method
- Fill a rocks glass with fresh ice cubes.
- Pour in 2 oz vodka and 1 oz coffee liqueur, then stir gently to combine and chill.
- Hold a bar spoon upside down just above the surface of the drink and slowly pour 1 oz heavy cream over the back of the spoon.
- Let the cream settle into a soft layer on top, then serve immediately without stirring so the drinker can swirl it themselves.
About the White Russian
The White Russian is a cold-war era drink, a variation on the Black Russian that swaps in cream for a softer, dessert-like texture. The Black Russian itself dates to the late 1940s, built on vodka and coffee liqueur, and the cream version took hold in the decades that followed. Pop culture gave it a second life in the late 1990s, and it has stayed on bar menus ever since as one of the few cocktails that works equally well as an after-dinner drink.
Nailing it comes down to two things: cold glassware and a gentle pour. Use a heavy cream rather than milk or half and half, since the higher fat content holds the float and keeps the layers distinct. Pour the cream over the back of a bar spoon so it lands slowly, and do not stir before serving. If you want a lighter version, shake the cream briefly first to thicken it slightly, or drop the cream to 3/4 oz for a drier drink.
- Chill the glass and the cream in advance so the layers stay crisp.
- Heavy cream floats best, milk or half and half will sink and muddy the drink.
- Pour over the back of a bar spoon for a clean, even float.
- For a Black Russian, skip the cream entirely and serve over ice.
Get the bottles delivered
Order online for same-day or next-day Long Island delivery, free curbside pickup in Commack, or nationwide shipping where it is legal. You must be 21 or older.
