White Russian
Ingredients
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- 1 cup ice cubes
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce coffee liqueur
- 1 ounce heavy cream
Instructions
- 1.
Fill an old-fashioned (rocks) glass with the ice cubes.
- 2.
Add the vodka and coffee liqueur to the glass and stir until well chilled and slightly diluted, 10–15 seconds.
- 3.
Gently pour the heavy cream over the back of a spoon so it floats on top; let it marble for a few seconds, then stir briefly if you prefer it fully blended.
- 4.
Serve immediately.
A White Russian is a rich, velvety cocktail that combines vodka and coffee liqueur with a float of heavy cream. The result is a balanced sip that is sweet but not cloying, with coffee-caramel notes rounded by the cream’s lush texture. Served over ice in a rocks glass, it’s both indulgent and approachable, making it a perennial favorite for dessert-like nightcaps.
Despite its name, the White Russian is not Russian; the title references vodka rather than origin. It evolved from the Black Russian, a 1949 drink attributed to a Brussels bartender, by adding cream—most commonly seen in American bar culture by the 1960s. Its popularity surged in the late 20th century and cemented itself as a pop-culture icon in the United States, especially after its prominent role in film.