The Black Russian cocktail, made with coffee liqueur and vodka, is easy to make at home and can be modified for different tastes. It is served in an old-fashioned glass and was developed by Belgian bartender Gustave Tops in the 1940s. Variations include the Red Russ and Green Russ, while the White Russian adds milk or cream.
A Black Russian is a cocktail made with coffee liqueur and vodka, served over crushed ice. This cocktail is quite common in many regions of the world and is often one of the first drinks a bartender learns to make. Black Russians are very easy to make at home and don’t require any special bar tools or complicated tricks. Black Russians can also be modified for a variety of tastes and occasions.
This cocktail is designed to be served in an old-fashioned glass, sometimes called a lowball glass. These low, basic glasses are designed to hold a scoop of ice and several mixed ingredients. Typically, a Black Russian is served without a side dish, although a straw or stirrer may be included to mix the ingredients. If you’re stocking a home bar, many kitchen supply stores sell cocktail glasses in various shapes or sizes, and you may even get a complete set so all of your glasses match.
Credit for the development of the Black Russian is usually given to Gustave Tops, a Belgian bartender who worked there in the 1940s. The drink’s name is presumably a reference to the strained relations between Russia and much of Europe during the Cold War, and to the fact that the drink contains vodka, a classic Russian alcohol. Tops used an approximately 2:1 ratio of vodka to coffee liqueur, though different bartenders may adjust this ratio slightly for personal taste.
A common choice of coffee liqueur for Black Russians is Kahlúa, although other brands may also be used. The drink is made by measuring ice into a glass, pouring vodka over it, and then adding the coffee liqueur. The bartender preparing the drink can stir it to mix or present it with the separate layers, allowing the consumer to mix if desired. A variation of the drink is the Tall Black Russian, made in a highball glass and mixed with cola.
In addition to a Black Russ, Red Russ can also be made, with cherry brandy instead of coffee liqueur, and Green Russ, which use mint liqueur to replace coffee liqueur. In the 1960s, another version of this cocktail known as the White Russian was developed. White Russians use the same ingredients, but add a layer of milk or cream to transform the cocktail into a very rich drink suitable for after-dinner consumption.
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