Classic White Russian Cocktail
Our four ingredients classic White Russian cocktail is smooth and creamy. It only takes a couple of minutes to make and is a great option for folks that don’t like sweet drinks.
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This drink is pretty boozy with a stronger flavor than something like an espresso martini or chocolate martini. The only sweetness in the drink comes from Kahlúa. The rest of the ingredients aren’t sweet at all. If you like it a little sweeter, stir in some simple syrup.
White Russian drinks are great as an after dinner cocktail. You can have one poured in less than 5 minutes and there’s no special equipment or drink shakers needed.
For a fall version of this drink, give my pumpkin spice White Russian a try! It looks beautiful with its layers and swirled ingredients. This one is a little sweeter, so I consider it more of a dessert cocktail.
Kim’s Tips for the Best Cocktail
In all seriousness, this drink recipe is fairly straightforward. There are a few things you can do to make sure you pull it off seamlessly.
- This drink is usually made with ice. If your ingredients are already cold, you can skip this ice. Leaving the ice out keeps the cocktail from getting watered down as the ice melts.
- Stir the drink or leave it layered. Either one works. A stirred drink mixes all the ingredients and gives you a more even flavor. Leaving it layered might give you different amounts of heavy cream, vodka, and Kahlúa in each sip.
- Be mindful of the brand of coffee liqueur that you use. Some brands are sweeter than others. I like to use Kahlúa since that’s what we usually keep in the liquor cabinet.
- If you don’t have a jigger or a way to measure the ingredients, use these amounts:
- 2 fluid ounces vodka = ¼ cup
- 1 fluid ounce Kahlúa = 2 tablespoons
- 1 fluid ounce heavy cream = 2 tablespoons
How To Make A White Russian Drink
- Add ice cubes to a cocktail glass or an old fashioned glass. Try not to fill the glass completely with ice.
- Pour in the vodka and the coffee liqueur. Give it a quick stir to combine.
- You’ll want to float the heavy cream over the top by flipping a spoon upside down and placing the tip against the inside of the glass. Slowly pour the heavy cream over the back of the spoon into the cocktail. This is how you create a pretty layered look. Don’t worry if some of the cream sinks into the vodka and Kahlúa. Sometimes that happens because the cream is heavier than the other ingredients. Serve immediately or stir to combine the ingredients then serve.
More Creamy Vodka Cocktails
Ingredients
- Ice
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce Kahlúa, or another coffee liqueur
- 1 ounce heavy cream
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Instructions
- Fill a rocks glass almost to the top with ice. Pour the vodka and Kahlúa over the ice, and stir briefly.Ice2 ounces vodka1 ounce Kahlúa
- Hold a spoon against the inside of the glass with the back facing up. Slowly pour the heavy cream over the spoon so it floats over the vodka and coffee liqueur.1 ounce heavy cream
- Leave the cream layered or stir the cocktail until combined. Serve immediately.
Notes
- The calories listed are an approximation based on the ingredients in the recipe card and a serving size of 1 drink. Actual calories will vary.