| Drink | White Russian, a creamy vodka cocktail |
| Base | Vodka, coffee liqueur and cream (or whole milk) |
| In our recipe | 5 cl Grey Goose, 2 cl Kahlúa, 3 cl cream |
| Served | Over ice in a chilled Riedel glass, garnished with a whole coffee bean |
| Origin | Hotel Metropole, Brussels, 1949 (as the Black Russian) |
| Sister drink | Black Russian: the same drink without cream |
| Famous from | The Big Lebowski (1998) |
White Russian history: from Brussels to The Dude
A White Russian looks like something dreamt up late one night in a bar in Moscow. It wasn't. The story starts in Brussels in 1949, and the drink's only link to Russia is the vodka.
The Black Russian came first
The most told story leads to the Hotel Metropole in Brussels. There the bartender Gustave Tops mixed vodka and coffee liqueur for a regular at the bar, Perle Mesta, who had just become the US ambassador to Luxembourg. The drink was named the Black Russian. Why he picked those two ingredients, nobody knows. It's a story that has been passed on, and not every detail is documented. Some sources say Tops made both versions the same year, others that the cream came later.
Why is it called a White Russian?
The answer is vodka. Vodka was new on the commercial market in Western bars at the time, and the name "Russian" stuck to drinks that used it. As early as The Savoy Cocktail Book from 1930 you'll find a Russian with vodka, gin and crème de cacao. Black and White simply describe what's in the glass: a dark drink without cream, a light one with.
When did the cream go in the glass?
It's something of a detective job. The sources don't agree on when the drink first appeared in print with cream. Some point to 1961, others to a newspaper insert in the Oakland Tribune in 1965. Smirnoff's distributor Heublein tried to protect the name White Russian in 1962, which probably helped spread it. In the 1960s and 70s the drink was popular, a kind of milkshake for grown-ups. In the 80s it fell out of fashion.
The Big Lebowski: when The Dude made the White Russian a cult drink
In 1998 the Coen brothers' The Big Lebowski came out, and Jeff Bridges' Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski drinks White Russians through most of the film. Several sources count nine of them. He calls them Caucasians. The film flopped in cinemas but became a cult classic, and the drink followed. Today there are Lebowski bars and bowling nights around the world where White Russians are poured by the gallon. If you want to read more, VinePair has a good write-up.
Black Russian or White Russian?
| Black Russian | Vodka and coffee liqueur, served over ice |
| White Russian | Like the Black Russian, but with cream or milk |
| Colorado Bulldog | A Black Russian with cream and cola |
How to make a better White Russian
The drink has few ingredients, so you can taste every one of them. Use a good vodka, measure the coffee liqueur and pour into a chilled glass. Cream gives a rounder drink than milk, but milk works fine if you want it a little lighter. If you want a White Russian with more bite, try it with Coole Swan as described in the recipe above.
Frequently asked questions about the White Russian recipe
What is a White Russian cocktail?
A White Russian is a creamy drink made from vodka, coffee liqueur and cream, served over ice.
What goes in a White Russian?
Vodka, a coffee liqueur such as Kahlúa, and cream or milk. In our recipe it's 5 cl vodka, 2 cl coffee liqueur and 3 cl cream.
Who invented the White Russian?
The story points to the bartender Gustave Tops at the Hotel Metropole in Brussels in 1949. He made the Black Russian, and the cream went in either the same year or later.
Why is it called a White Russian when it isn't from Russia?
The name comes from the vodka. The drink was created in Belgium.
What is the difference between a Black Russian and a White Russian?
A Black Russian is vodka and coffee liqueur. A White Russian also has cream or milk.
Can you use milk instead of cream?
Yes. Milk gives a lighter drink, cream a creamier one.
Which coffee liqueur should I use for a White Russian?
We use Kahlúa, but it's the coffee liqueur that matters. You can use other coffee liqueurs.
What does The Big Lebowski have to do with the White Russian?
The Dude in the 1998 film drinks almost nothing but White Russians. It gave the drink cult status.
How do you serve a White Russian?
Over ice in a chilled glass, garnished with a whole coffee bean.
Want to make a White Russian yourself?
Here's what you need: Grey Goose vodka, Kahlúa and a Riedel glass. If you want to try a variation, take a look at Coole Swan. And if you can't find what you're looking for, the other vodka drinks are collected here.
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