The Black Russian is a bold, minimalist cocktail blending vodka and coffee liqueur for a dark, smooth, and slightly sweet drink with pronounced coffee character.
Fill an Old Fashioned glass with ice. Add vodka and coffee liqueur. Stir gently until chilled.
Serve on the rocks in an old fashioned glass with no garnish. The Black Russian should look dark, glossy, and minimal, with vodka and coffee liqueur concentrated over cold clear ice.
Pair it with brownies, tiramisu, chocolate mousse, espresso desserts, vanilla ice cream, or rich pastries. Coffee liqueur and vodka make the drink strongest with cocoa, cream, caramel, and roasted flavors.
Created in 1949 by bartender Gustave Tops at the Hotel Metropole in Brussels, the Black Russian became a concise after-dinner cocktail built from vodka and coffee liqueur. Its name reflects both the dark color and the vodka base.
Best as an after-dinner drink, a nightcap, or a short dessert-leaning cocktail when the menu needs coffee depth without cream or a shaken texture.
Vodka gives clean strength and structure, while coffee liqueur adds roasted sweetness, caramel, vanilla, and a gentle bitter finish. The drink should feel strong, dark, smooth, and direct.
Dark, minimal, coffee-led, strong, and understated.
Add light cream to move toward a White Russian, or serve over a larger cube for slower dilution. Keep the vodka and coffee liqueur balance clear so the Black Russian stays short, dark, and focused.
28%
⚠️ Alcoholic beverage: not suitable for minors, pregnant individuals, or designated drivers. Please enjoy responsibly.
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Cocktails in the After-Dinner category prepared with the stirred method.
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Cocktails that combine a after-dinner profile, the stirred method, and service in a old fashioned glass.
Black Russian sits around 28% ABV. Use these routes to compare drinks with a similar drinking weight, then narrow them by style, method or glass.
Cocktails in the After-Dinner category with 25–32% ABV.
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