Black Russian
/

Black Russian
Cocktail recipe

Rating

4.87 / 5
The Black Russian first appeared in 1949 and is ascribed to Gustave Tops, a Belgian barman, who created it at the Hotel Metropole in Brussels in honour of Perle Mesta, then United States Ambassador to Luxembourg. Simple - yet a classic.
Check out all our FAQ's on this cocktail

Microbadges

IBA Official Drink
15 key ingredients
Cocktail Of The Day
Invented
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1949
Base ingredient
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vodka
Calories
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
175 calories
Alcohol content
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
34.29% | 2.4 units *
Details
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Easy
Classic
Stirred

Lowball glass

Ingredients

oz
ml
cl
Serves:
-
+
cocktail colin avatar

Cocktail Colin says:

5/5

The Black Russian is a deceptively simple concoction that delivers a robust kick, thanks to the potent combination of vodka and coffee liqueur. Its dark, alluring profile provides a creamy sweetness perfectly balanced by the clean, sharp bite of vodka, making it more than just a sum of its parts. This cocktail shows that sometimes, simplicity is the highest form of sophistication, especially when it captures the essence of two harmonious flavors in one glass.

Method
How to make a Black Russian

Serves 1 · Takes 3 minutes
Pour the ingredients directly into a lowball glass with ice
Stir and serve

Power tips
Elevate the Black Russian with these master mixologist tips

Upgrade to premium

And receive world class tips on how to raise your cocktails to the next level.

Find out more
Opt for a premium coffee liqueur, like Kahlua or Tia Maria, to enhance the flavor profile with rich and complex coffee notes.
Consider using a large, clear ice cube to minimize dilution and keep the drink cold, without watering down the robust alcohol content.
Subscribe to premium to receive even more power tips on this cocktail.

Learn more about some of the mixology terms used in this cocktail

·  Stir  · 

Your private tasting notes

~ Register as a user for free to create tasting notes, save your bar and more ~

Can you make this?

Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.

Comments

No comments yet…

You need to be a user with a verified email to comment on cocktails. Login / register

Featured in

  • Festival liveners
  • Top 25 Cocktails Featured in Cheers

For those heady summer festivals, its often a good idea to have a few liveners back at your tent before...

Go to collection

FAQ's

Origins history icon

What is the origin of the Black Russian cocktail?

The Black Russian cocktail was created in 1949 by bartender Gustave Tops at the Hotel Metropole in Brussels, Belgium. It was made in honor of a visiting US ambassador. The cocktail gained popularity during the Cold War era, partly due to its name and the intrigue surrounding Russian culture.

Faq icon

Can I make a Black Russian cocktail if I only have regular coffee instead of coffee liqueur?

While the authentic Black Russian cocktail requires coffee liqueur for its distinct flavor, you can use a strong, cold-brewed coffee as a substitute in a pinch. However, you may need to adjust the sweetness since coffee liqueur typically contains sugar. Adding a small amount of simple syrup or sugar may help mimic the original taste.

Faq icon

Is there a variation of the Black Russian that includes cream or milk?

Yes, the White Russian is a well-known variation of the Black Russian that includes cream or milk. To make a White Russian, you add cream to the traditional Black Russian recipe, which consists of vodka and coffee liqueur. This softens the drink's flavor and adds a rich texture.

Serving suggestions icon

How should I serve a Black Russian cocktail to best enjoy its flavors?

The Black Russian is best served in a lowball glass over ice. The ice helps to slightly dilute the drink as it melts, making it smoother and helping to blend the flavors of the vodka and coffee liqueur. It's recommended to stir the drink gently before serving to ensure the ingredients are well mixed.

Food pairings icon

What kind of snacks or food pair well with a Black Russian?

Since the Black Russian is rich and has a strong coffee flavor, it pairs well with desserts, especially those featuring chocolate or coffee elements. For a savory option, nuts or salty snacks like pretzels and chips can complement the cocktail's depth. For a more sophisticated pairing, consider serving it with a charcuterie board featuring aged cheeses and cured meats.

Upgrade your mixology

Become a member for free taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. Or become a premium member to rise to cocktail greatness.

  • Save your bar forever
  • Access to our Cocktail Creator, allowing you to create your own wonderful concoctions.
  • Create personalised cocktail menus for all your events, bars or parties
  • Save cocktails to personalised 'Tried' and 'Want to try' lists
  • Create and record tasting notes on cocktails
  • Create lists of cocktails to share with friends and family
  • A personalised MyBar URL, allowing you to share everything you can make with friends
  • And much more ... (what to buy next, measurement choices, search personalisation...)

Create your own cocktail menu!

Use our interactive cocktail menu creator for free, and create wonderful looking cocktail menus for your next party, gathering or bar.

Great looking pre-built designed themes, group your cocktails, choose what to show on them and a host more options.

Get creating
build your bar

Create a cocktail

Choose a theme and some ingredients, give us some description and we'll create an amazing cocktail for you.

Register as a Premium Make Me a Cocktail community member and get access to an even more powerful creator.

Start creating

Build your bar

Tell us what you have at home and we’ll find a delicious cocktail for you to make right now.

Register as a Make Me a Cocktail community member and we’ll save your ingredients list so you can come back to it at any time.

Create My Bar
build your bar light mode image