Black Russian recipe
Vodka and coffee liqueur — simple, strong, and timelessly cool.
Method: Build ·
Glass: Rocks glass ·
Time: 2 min ·
Difficulty: Beginner ·
Family: The Old Fashioned Family
Ingredients
- 2 oz Vodka
- 1 oz Coffee Liqueur (Kahlúa)
How to make a Black Russian
- Fill a rocks glass with ice.
- Pour in vodka and coffee liqueur.
- Stir gently to combine.
Garnish
None.
Pro tip
The simplicity is the point — don't overthink it. Use a good coffee liqueur (Mr Black is excellent if you want less sweetness than Kahlúa) and a clean vodka. The drink should taste like boozy iced coffee.
History of the Black Russian
Created in 1949 by bartender Gustave Tops at the Hotel Metropole in Brussels. He made it for Perle Mesta, the US Ambassador to Luxembourg. The 'Russian' refers to the vodka, and 'Black' to the coffee liqueur.
Flavour profile
Coffee, Sweet, Boozy, Simple
Variations
- White Russian — Add cream for The Dude's favorite
- Dirty Russian — Use cold brew instead of coffee liqueur
- Brave Bull — Use tequila instead of vodka
Practise making the Black Russian in the free Virtual Bar game.