The Black Russian recipe
for your table
Fill a tumbler with one large ice cube or a few large ice cubes.
Pour the vodka over the ice.
Add the coffee liqueur; it will sink naturally to the bottom and create a beautiful dark gradient.
Stir briefly with a bar spoon until the glass is chilled. Serve without garnish.
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Send the Black Russian recipe to your own email, so you have it at hand when you are about to make it. You will also receive a € 5 discount code on purchases of € 50 or more for the glasses that go with it.
The story
Brussels, 1949. Hotel Metropole bartender Gustave Tops made a drink for Perle Mesta, the American ambassador to Luxembourg. Two ingredients, each loaded with symbolism: vodka stood for the Soviet Union during those early Cold War years, while the black coffee liqueur gave the drink its color. More than twenty years later, the cocktail got a sibling when someone added cream, the White Russian, which became better known than the original thanks to The Big Lebowski (1998). Meanwhile, the Black Russian remained what it is: the most underrated two-ingredient cocktail in the repertoire.
The right glass
A Black Russian belongs in a low, wide tumbler or Old Fashioned glass of 30 to 38 cl. The wide opening provides room for a large ice cube. Important, because this is a cocktail without a mixer that you drink slowly, so you want as little dilution as possible. A thick, heavy base makes a difference in how the glass feels in your hand. Clear, colorless glass shows off the dark gradient of the coffee liqueur best.
Eclat Longchamp Tumbler 32 cl (6 pieces)
RCR Adagio Tumbler 35 cl (6 pieces)
Both sets together € 62,90.
The right tools
For a Black Russian, besides the glass, you’ll need a bar spoon for stirring, a jigger for precise measuring, and large ice cubes. These are the bar tools we use ourselves; you’ll find everything in our bar tools & cocktail sets.
Glassware set (our choice 01) + 3 bar tools together € 72,80.
Variations & twists
Add a splash of cream and you have a White Russian; top up with cola for a Dirty Black Russian and sparkling water for a lighter, longer version. Swap the vodka for tequila and it becomes a Black Mexican. A splash of espresso makes it drier and much more sophisticated. Looking for more inspiration? Browse all cocktail recipes.
Serving tip
Use one large ice cube instead of five small ones: less surface area means slower dilution, and with two ingredients you notice immediately when your drink becomes watery. Keep your vodka in the freezer and the coffee liqueur at room temperature. That difference in density creates the beautiful dark gradient at the bottom of the glass.
Ratio 5 to 2 and how strong it is
A Black Russian cocktail contains 5 cl vodka and 2 cl coffee liqueur, so roughly two and a half parts liquor to one part sweetener. Since coffee liqueur is usually around 20 percent ABV and there is no mixer, you end up with about one-quarter alcohol in the glass, even after the ice has melted slightly. That makes it closer to whiskey on the rocks than to a long drink. If you find it too sticky with Kahlúa, use 1.5 cl liqueur and an extra half centiliter of vodka; the dark color and coffee flavor will remain.
Frequently asked questions
Which glass do you use for a Black Russian?
A tumbler or old fashioned glass holding 30 to 38 cl. Check out our old fashioned glasses for catering-quality sets.
What is the difference from a White Russian?
Only the cream. A White Russian uses the same vodka and coffee liqueur with a layer of whipped cream or whole milk on top; the Black Russian leaves that out and is therefore drier and stronger in flavor.
Which coffee liqueur is best to use?
Kahlúa is the standard and the sweetest; Tia Maria is drier and more coffee-forward. Craft coffee liqueurs made with real espresso give the finest version, but are also considerably more bitter. Use slightly less of those.
Can you make a Black Russian alcohol-free?
Yes: combine 0.0 vodka with cold strong coffee and a little sugar syrup. You miss the liqueur's texture, but the flavor profile and dark color remain.
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