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The Black Russian drink is a famous, easy-to-make cocktail that first appeared around the late 1940’s.Â
One thing that surprised me about making the Black Russian was how easy it was to assemble. It’s a straightforward two-ingredient cocktail comprised of Vodka and Kahlua (scroll down to the recipe card for the amounts).
Where did the Black Russian come from?
The Black Russian is a drink initially invented in the late 1940s by a gentleman named Gustave Tops. It uses one of the most popular spirits in the world: the almighty Kahlua.
You can easily substitute a different brand of coffee liqueur, but considering that Kahlua is the most commonly used one, I’m going to recommend it for this recipe. I’m also not personally familiar with any alternatives to Kahlua myself, but feel free to flag some in the comments if you have some recommendations.
How to Make a Black Russian
To make a Black Russian, you’ll need Kahlua and Vodka. You’ll combine the amounts I’ve mentioned in the recipe below with ice in a Boston Shaker and shake until the shaker is cold to the touch. You will then pour over ice into an old-fashioned glass and serve.
What is the difference between a Black Russian and a White Russian?
The difference between the Black Russian and the White Russian is simply the addition of cream to the mix and a slight change in the quantities. Both of these drinks use the same style of glass, the old-fashioned glass, and are served over ice.
Variations
There are quite a few variations of this cocktail, which I’ll outline below.
- Colorado Bulldog
A Colorado Bulldog is a variation of the Black Russian that is comprised of equal parts vodka, Kahlua, and Cream, which is then poured over ice and topped with Cola. - Black Magic
A Black Magic cocktail is similar to the Black Russian. It’s made by combining 1 ounce of vodka, Kahlua, and 1/3 ounce of lemon juice served over ice. - Brown Russian
The Brown Russian is a variation that uses equal parts vodka, creme de cacao, cream, and chocolate syrup. - White Russian
The White Russian is the most common variant. It consists of equal parts vodka, Kahlua, and cream shaken and poured over ice.
Some other great cocktails to try
- Sex on the Beach Cocktail
- Spiked Chocolate Iced Coffee
- How to Make a Cosmopolitan Cocktail Drink
- Rusty Nail
Hope you like it!
Mr. Magpie (Mike)
Black Russian
- Prep Time
- 5 minutes
- Total Time
- 5 minutes
- Course
- Cocktail
- Cuisine
- American
- Servings
- 1
- Calories
- 228
- Author
- Karlynn Johnston
Ingredients
- 1 ounce Kahlua or another similar coffee liqueur
- 2 ounces Vodka
Instructions
- Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice.
- Shake until the shaker is cold to the touch.
- Pour over ice into an old fashioned glass and serve.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Information
All calories and info are based on a third party calculator and are only an estimate. Actual nutritional info will vary with brands used, your measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
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Rita Stevenson says
Tia Maria is a viable alternative to Kahlua.
Jeff Tomlinson says
Love me a good Black Russian. I’ve been drinking these for years. I personally prefer to use a splash of chocolate vodka along with the normal vodka. It gives it a little extra chocolate kick!