Black Russian
Two ingredients, one clear statement: cool vodka and dark, gently sweet coffee liqueur stirred over ice.
Ingredients
- Vodka50 ml
- Coffee liqueure.g. Kahlúa25 ml
- Cocktail cherry, for garnish (optional)1 whole
Method
- Fill a rocks glass with ice cubes.
- Pour the vodka and coffee liqueur over the ice.
- Stir calmly for about 10 seconds, until the drink is cold and lightly diluted.
- Garnish with a cocktail cherry, if you like.
About this drink
The story goes that bartender Gustave Tops created the drink in 1949 at Brussels’s Hotel Metropole for Perle Mesta, the US ambassador to Luxembourg known for her lavish dinners. Despite its name, the cocktail has nothing to do with Russia — it simply celebrates vodka’s clean character. It later laid the foundation for the White Russian, when someone thought to add cream.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between a Black Russian and a White Russian?
Cream — a White Russian is simply a Black Russian topped with a layer of cream. Without it, the drink has a cleaner, more spirit-forward character.
Which coffee liqueur should you use?
Kahlúa is the standard and gives a rounded, not overly sweet coffee flavour, but any good coffee liqueur works. Avoid very sweet, synthetic versions, which completely drown the vodka.
