A White Russian is a sweet cocktail made with vodka, coffee liqueur, and milk or cream. It is traditionally served in an old-fashioned glass and is easy to make at home. The drink’s name is likely linked to the presence of vodka, a traditionally Russian alcohol. Kahlúa is a popular brand of coffee liqueur used to make the drink, and variations on the recipe exist. The drink is typically sweet and creamy and is considered an after-dinner drink.
A White Russian is a cocktail made with vodka, coffee liqueur, and milk or cream. The origins of the drink’s name are presumably linked to the presence of vodka, a traditionally Russian alcohol. A related drink, the Black Russian, predates the White Russian and contains similar ingredients. White Russians are often available in bars and are also very easy to mix at home, requiring no special tools or skills.
Conventionally, this drink is served in an old-fashioned glass, a short glass designed to hold ice and some cocktail ingredients. To make a White Russian, chunks of ice are dropped into the glass before vodka, coffee liqueur and creamer are poured in. When finished, the drink tends to stay layered, with the clear vodka at the bottom and the crema floating on top. The drinker may choose to stir the cream slowly before drinking.
Kahlúa is a popular brand of coffee liqueur that is commonly used to make White Russians. Some bartenders may use Tia Maria, another well-known brand, or an entirely different liquor, depending on personal choice and availability. Since Kahlúa and coffee liqueurs in general tend to be very sweet, White Russian is typically very sweet, with a rich creamy flavor. Lighter milk is sometimes used to make the drink less heavy, and non-dairy alternatives can also be used, although some can behave strangely when mixed with alcohol.
White Russian’s origins appear to date back to the 1960s, when the drink began popping up along the West Coast of the United States. A number of variations on the drink have since been developed. The name was probably taken from the black Russian, a drink with vodka and coffee liqueur but no cream; the “white” is a reference to the creamy color of the finished drink. This drink should not be confused with the White Russians, an anti-Bolshevik movement active during the Russian Civil War.
Traditionally, the ratio in a White Russian is 1:1:1, which means that some of each ingredient is added. Adjustments in ingredient levels will naturally lead to a stronger, sweeter, or creamier drink, depending on which ingredients are appropriate. White Russians are not typically garnished and are generally considered after dinner drinks, due to their sweetness and richness.
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