White Russian Cocktail

If you’ve seen the 1998 cult classic the big Lebowski, You know exactly what a Belarusian is. For everyone else, a White Russian cocktail is made with vodka, cream, and Kahlúa (a sweet, coffee-flavored liqueur made from Arabica coffee, sugar, vanilla, and rum), served over ice in a Rocks glass.

You might be thinking, “Hmmm, sounds like a slightly alcoholic Iced Vanilla Latte!” and you wouldn’t be far off. It’s lively and drunk!

How does a White Russian taste?

The ingredients in a White Russian are Vodka, cream or whole milk and Kahlúa – three ingredients that combine to create a milky dessert drink that can only be described as delicious.

Truly, in this case I find “delicious” to be the most appropriate description. Think of the cream in this drink as a weighted blanket. It takes the edge off the vodka, forcing it to relax a bit, and then nestles into the sugary rumness of the Kahlúa.

If you like coffee-flavored sweet foods and desserts (coffee-flavored ice cream, chocolate-covered coffee beans, affogato), you’ll like a White Russian. If you like creamy alcoholic beverages like eggnog and Irish coffee, you’ll like a White Russian. If you like the idea of ​​pairing your morning cup of coffee with your afternoon happy hour, you’ll love a White Russian.

The best vodka for a Belarusian

When it comes to the vodka for a White Russian, you don’t need to worry. The vodka plays a supporting role in this drink — you’ll taste more of the Kahlúa and cream — so anything in the $15-$20 range is fine.

I recommend Tito’s Homemade Vodka (as does Nancy – it’s her favorite vodka), which is widely available and can be bought for less than $20.

Suggestions and substitutes for Belarusians

It’s hard to screw up a White Russian, but follow these tips for a safe drink:

• When the cream is too much for you, swap it out for whole milk or half and half. Avoid low-fat milk, skim milk, and low-fat non-dairy milk or the drink will curdle.
• Need a reliable non-dairy alternative? Use coconut milk! Here’s a recipe.
• I used a 2:1:1 ratio of vodka, cream, and Kahlua, which gives the drink a certain bite. (It will soften as the ice melts.) If you want more of that overall sweet coffee flavor while the vodka just nibbles in the background, go for a 1:1:1 ratio.

More creamy cocktails to sip:

• Coconut White Russian
• Advocaat
• Coquito (Puerto Rican Coconut Eggnog)
• Irish coffee made from brown sugar