Black Russian
The Black Russian is an IBA Contemporary Classic: 2 ingredients, built in the glass and served in a rocks glass. That makes 81 ml in the glass: a small glass.
MethodBuilt in the glass
GlassRocks glass
In the glass81 ml
Strength29.8%
Ingredients
- 50 mlvodka
- 20 mlcoffee liqueur
Method
- Pour the ingredients into the old fashioned glass filled with ice cubes.
- Stir gently. strain ingredients into old fashioned glass filled with ice.
- NOTE:
- WHITE RUSSIAN – Float fresh cream on the top and stir in slowly.
What it tastes like
- bitter → sweet
- It sits between bitter and sweet: 0.9 out of 10 of bitterness, 108th of 186 for sweetness.
- round → sour
- No citrus to wake it up: it arrives round, the 10th least sour of 186.
- light → strong
- In the finished glass, melted ice included, it runs 29.8%: 10th of 186, stronger than 95% of the catalogue.
Among the five around it on the map it is the only one built on vodka.
Five that come close
- Mint JulepBuilt on whisky and with bourbon whiskey in place of vodka.
- Old Fashioned4 degrees stronger and built on whisky.
- Angel FaceBuilt on gin and with gin in place of vodka.
- Rusty Nail5 degrees stronger and built on whisky.
- GodfatherMore bitter and built on whisky.
Every drink near the Black Russian on the map
Recipe source: IBA · checked on 30 October 2026