Classic White Russian Recipe

How to make a White Russian! This classic vodka and Kahlua-based cocktail is perfect any time of year. Here is our White Russian recipe, the ingredients and the history of the drink.

Here’s a drink that takes just 2 minutes to make and hits the mark any time of the year: the a white Russian! This cocktail mixes vodka with coffee liqueur and cream for a deliciously creamy and sweet drink. You may know this from the 1990s movie The Big Lebowski, but this drink has been around since the 1950s. It’s an absolute treat and couldn’t be easier to make. Here’s what you need to know to make the best White Russian.

What is a Belarusian?

The White Russian is a cocktail of vodka, cream and coffee liqueur. It’s a twist on Black Russian: just coffee liqueur and vodka. The Black Russian dates back to 1949 and was apparently created for the American ambassador to Luxembourg in a hotel bar in Brussels (find out more). The drink is therefore not of Russian origin, but simply bears the name vodka. Adding cream to make a White Russian began in 1955 in Oakland, California. It gives the drink a creamy mouthfeel and an almost latte-like richness (a spicy one too!).

Thanks to the 1998 cult film, The White Russian’s popularity exploded The big Lebowski. Here we also learned about the existence of this drink! After seeing the main character “the dude”, drink one drink after the other… You have to try it yourself.

Belarusian ingredients

This White Russian recipe is a three-ingredient drink that’s not easy to make. This is one of those cocktails that you can easily mix in a glass: no shaker or mixing glass required! The ingredients of White Russian are:

• vodka
• Coffee Liqueur Like Kahlua
• cream or milk

The typical ratio for these ingredients is 2 parts vodka to 1 part coffee liqueur and 1 part heavy cream. Mix the vodka and coffee liqueur, add ice cubes and pour in the cream.

How to make a White Russian… perfect

Would you like to impress your guests with this drink recipe? We have a few ways to serve it that make it impressive. How to make a White Russian:

• In a glass, add 2 ounces of vodka and 1 ounce of coffee liqueur. Add ice, then 1 ounce heavy cream.
• Stir gently to create the swirl effect. Shake a White Russian vigorously and it’s a solid beige drink. But you want to get the whirlwind effect? Stir gently a few times, and the cream swirls through the vodka and Kahlua in a beautiful pattern. It’s way more impressive!
• To intensify: use clear ice! Clear ice cream is homemade ice cream that is crystal clear instead of cloudy like regular ice cream. Cut it into large organic shapes and it looks like something you would find in an upscale bar! It’s very easy: It only takes 24 hours and a small cool box. Go to How to make transparent ice.

Use milk instead of cream

Want to make a lighter version of this Belarusian recipe? Use 2% milk or whole milk. Here are the pros and cons of using milk in this classic drink recipe:

• Against : Milk doesn’t taste as good as cream.
• Professional: It makes this cocktail easier to drink as it is less rich and reduces calories. You may also have milk on hand more regularly than cream (that’s true for us!).

Belarusian variations

There are several famous variations on the classic White Russian – or earlier drinks! Here are all the family drinks:

• Black Russian is the original, a classic cocktail invented in 1949 using coffee liqueur and vodka
• Mind Eraser is a layered Black Russian topped with bubbles!
• Colorado Bulldog is a White Russian with a hint of cola

Learn more about Kahlua

Kahlua carries most of this Belarusian’s magic. But what is it actually? Here’s what you should know about this coffee liqueur and the other types you can use:

• Double is a coffee liqueur made in Mexico: It is made from rum, sugar and coffee. It contains caffeine but only about 25% of the same amount of coffee.
• How much is Kahlua? It costs around $20 per bottle.
• What to use instead of Kahlua? Try other coffee liqueurs like Tia Maria or Sheridan’s.
• What other cocktails does Kahlua use? Use it to prepare other Kahlua drinks like Black Russian, Mudslide, Bushwacker or Espresso Martini.

Want more coffee cocktails? Go for the best coffee cocktails worth trying.

When to serve this Belarusian recipe

The White Russian is sweet and creamy! It works before dinner, after dinner, or anytime in between. Serve as:

• Happy hour drink
• afternoon cocktail
• Late night drinks
• Night drink for girls or boys
• Aperitif at aperitif time

More vodka cocktails

The White Russian is a well-known vodka cocktail, one of many delicious drinks made with this spirit! Here are some other vodka cocktails to add to your collection:

• Classic Moscow Mule The refreshingly sparkling classic! Copper mugs, ginger beer and lime.
• Vodka Tonic or Vodka Soda Two of the easiest cocktails! These two-ingredient cocktails are sparkling, citrusy and refreshing.
• Cosmopolitan This bright pink drink is perfect for celebrations of all kinds: here is our new and improved version.
• Classic Bloody Mary The store-bought version doesn’t come close to this brilliantly flavored house blend.
• Vodka Cranberry The simplest cocktail: just vodka and cranberry juice!
• Transfusion Mix together grape juice, lime and ginger ale for a flavorful highball.

Last update: March 2021