The White Russian is a decadent and surprisingly easy-to-make co*cktail. Combining vodka, Kahlúa and cream and serving the crowd-pleasing drink on the rocks creates a delicious alternative to adult milkshakes.
The History of the White Russian
The White Russian came about in the 1960s when someone added a bit of cream to the Black Russian, rendering it white. Neither drink is actually Russian in origin—the Black Russian itself is thought to have originated in Belgium, where it was first created for a U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg. Rather, the name is simply a reference to their base spirit, vodka.
The White Russian suffered a bit from a stodgy, antiquated reputation for a number of decades, until the 1998 movie “The Big Lebowski” came along and breathed new life into the co*cktail. That is, of course, thanks to Jeff Bridges’ character, the Dude, sipping it exclusively—and constantly—throughout the film’s duration.
The White Russian’s instant cultural prominence in the film’s aftermath is one of popular culture’s best drinks-related successes. One analogue would be Carrie Bradshaw’s impact on the Cosmo—but then the Cosmopolitan had only been birthed a few years before “Sex and the City” debuted. The White Russian, by comparison, had decades of dust to wipe off by the time “The Big Lebowski” rolled around.
Why the White Russian Works
The simplicity of the White Russian is the centerpiece of much of the co*cktail’s allure. The combination of vodka, Kahlúa and cream is so pleasurable, you could arguably wing the measurements and be rather content with the results. But there’s a magic to getting the proportions of the ingredients just right.
When making a White Russian at home, choose a decent vodka. Likewise, because the heavy cream is a core aspect of the co*cktail, elect a quality cream. That is, one with which you can taste the dairy’s provenance. A little character goes a deliciously long way.
Regarding substitutes: Half-and-half can work in a pinch because it has sufficient body to bolster the drink. It isn’t an optimal choice, but it will play its part well enough. Whole milk—or any type of milk—is a hard no-go. The resulting White Russian will be thin and insipid. Remember: You’re aiming for decadence.
Stir well before serving. Yes, the streaks of brown and white in an unstirred White Russian are arresting. (Exhibit A: The photo accompanying this recipe.) Gawk and admire to your heart’s content. Just do it before you drink your White Russian. You want those three ingredients melded like they were born to intermingle—which, in truth, they kind of were.
Add the vodka and Kahlúa to a rocks glass filled with ice.
Top with the heavy cream and stir.
The Power of Good Ice
If you’re able, use quality ice in this White Russian. Quality meaning “melts slowly.” That could mean large pieces. It could also mean dense pieces. What you want to avoid, if possible, is the shard-like bits from a standard freezer’s ice maker. They melt quickly and dilute the drink in a comparatively unpleasant manner.
And you can probably guess from name alone what the difference is. A White Russian is swirled with heavy cream, while a Black Russian...isn't. It is simply coffee liqueur and vodka, no white in sight, making it less like a dessert and more like an alcoholic wake-me-up.
The Colorado Bulldog is a popular mixed drink that's very similar to a White Russian. Though it's unknown how it got its name or who first created it, this simple fizzy co*cktail is very tasty.
Kahlua substitutes: Try swapping out the coffee liqueur with crème de cacao or amaretto. Vodka Substitutes: The vodka can be swapped for gin, bourbon or dark rum. Make a White Russian with Bailey's Irish Cream: Swap the cream for Irish cream.
Rich and creamy, the White Russian is the Espresso Martini's delicious older cousin — but unlike the trendy co*cktail, the White Russian leans on heavy cream for its iconic milky hue and soft mouthfeel. The co*cktail comes together quickly with just a few ingredients: vodka, coffee liqueur, and a splash of heavy cream.
The Mudslide—a combination of vodka, coffee liqueur, Irish cream, and heavy cream—is the quintessential boozy milkshake. Sweet, creamy, and rich, its popularity harkens back to a time when we took our co*cktail cues from the laminated menus of chain restaurants.
Throughout the movie, it appears as the beverage of choice for the protagonist, Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski. On a number of occasions he refers to the drink as a "Caucasian".
Baileys is creamy and derives its taste from cream, cocoa, and Irish Whiskey. Kahlua is dark without the creaminess of Baileys and is made with 100 percent arabica coffee, rum, and sugar. While acceptable, swapping out Baileys for Kahlua in a co*cktail recipe will produce quite different taste results.
What is the difference between Kahlua and Tia Maria? Khalua is made with 100% Arabica coffee beans, sugar and rum and has notes of vanilla and Carmel. Tia Maria! This smoother, refined spin on Kahlua is absolutely worth adding to your liquor collection.
Kahlúa is crafted from the finest ingredients that grow side by side in rural Veracruz, Mexico. The actual word Kahlúa has ties to ancient Arabic languages and is said to be slang for coffee. Yes, there was already street lingo in the 30's.
The White Russian came about in the 1960s when someone added a bit of cream to the Black Russian, rendering it white. Neither drink is actually Russian in origin—the Black Russian itself is thought to have originated in Belgium, where it was first created for a U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg.
Fill a rocks glass with ice cubes. Add the Kahlúa coffee liqueur and Tequila. Finish with a layer of your favorite cream or milk. Tip: Pour the cream or milk over the back of a spoon when you're adding it, for that Insta-ready finish.
The Black Russian is a simple, two-ingredient co*cktail that consists of vodka and coffee liqueur. It's the forebearer to the more popular White Russian, which follows the same base but includes cream.
Regardless of the employed spirits, the black Russian offers a strong drink. Most recipes employ 2 ounces of vodka mixed with around an ounce of coffee liqueur. Such a boozy pairing pushes the co*cktail to around 30% ABV while remaining pleasantly sippable.
History. The traditional co*cktail known as a black Russian, which first appeared in 1949, becomes a white Russian with the addition of cream. Neither drink has any known Russian origin, but both are so-named due to vodka being the primary ingredient.
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