White Russian

The White Russian cocktail is among a few classic cocktails that every home bartender needs in their tool belt. This three-ingredient cocktail couldn’t be easier to make—if you have Kahlúa, vodka, and heavy cream, you’re well on your way to making this after-dinner drink. Whether you’re an espresso martini lover looking for their next go-to drink or feel like embodying the Dude for a night (The Big Lebowski fans—you get it), this is the rich and creamy cocktail that will make your evening.

The history of this drink starts with another classic cocktail: its predecessor, the Black Russian. This 2-ingredient cocktail was created in Brussels in the 1940s; eventually, heavy cream was added, and the White Russian was born. The drink’s popularity skyrocketed in the '90s when it was featured in the Coen brothers film, The Big Lebowski, as the titular Dude's drink of choice. Whether you can quote the movie by heart or have never seen it, we can guarantee you’ll love this drink based on taste alone. Here’s how to perfect it:

How To Make A White Russian

INGREDIENTS

• Kahlúa: This is the main ingredient that makes this drink the classic that it is. Kahlúa is a rum and coffee liqueur that derives its flavor from just that: rum, coffee, and sugar. This gives Kahlúa a darker, more coffee forward flavor than another famous counterpart like Bailey’s, which has cream already added. If you don’t have Kahlúa on hand or just want to broaden your horizons, check out our list of the best coffee liqueurs!
• Vodka: No need to splurge here. This cocktail is all about simplicity—use a decent vodka you enjoy drinking, but no need to spring for the fancy bottle. Since the Kahlúa is the prominent flavor profile here, the vodka should be more of a minor player. Use your favorite brand, or check out our list of best vodka brands.
• Heavy Cream: Heavy cream is an important part to this decadent cocktail, but if you’re in the mood for something lighter, you can swap it out for half-and-half, whole milk, or a plant-based milk. Keep in mind though that your drink will be less rich and creamy than the classic.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

As with all cocktails, it’s important to prepare your glass ahead of time, by filling a rocks glass with ice. This will help chill the liquids much more efficiently, and with less potential for mess, than adding the ice afterwards. Then add in 1-oz. of your preferred vodka.

Follow this up with 2-oz. of Kahlúa, or other coffee liqueur, and give the mixture a slight stir to combine.

Finally top off with 1-oz. of heavy cream, or other cream alternative, and indulge in the classic cream-mustache-forming cocktail we all know and love.

The full list of ingredients and instructions can be found in the recipe below.

Recipe Tips

• Use the right ice. As with all cocktail recipes, using the right ice is vital to achieving the perfect drink. For this cocktail, you want large pieces of ice that will take some time to melt. Otherwise you will end up with a drink that is watered down by the time you finish. Since this cocktail is more of a sipper than many of its fruity companions, this step is extra important.