White Russian
The White Russian is a bar standard outside the IBA list: 3 ingredients, built in the glass and served in a rocks glass. That makes 138 ml in the glass: a middling measure.
MethodBuilt in the glass
GlassRocks glass
In the glass138 ml
Strength21.7%
Ingredients
- 60 mlvodka
- 30 mlcoffee liqueur
- 30 mlfresh cream
Method
- Pour the vodka and coffee liqueur into an ice-filled rocks glass.
- Float the cream on top and stir it in slowly.
Garnish: None.
What it tastes like
- bitter → sweet
- It sits between bitter and sweet: 0.8 out of 10 of bitterness, 92nd of 186 for sweetness.
- round → sour
- No citrus to wake it up: it arrives round, the 12th least sour of 186.
- light → strong
- 21.7% after dilution: the middle band, 40th of 186.
It is the longest of its group: 138 ml against the 113 of its nearest neighbour.
Five that come close
- El Presidente3 degrees stronger and built on rum.
- Mint Julep6 degrees stronger and built on whisky.
- Angel Face6 degrees stronger and built on gin.
- ParadiseMore sour and built on gin.
- Black Russian8 degrees stronger and shorter by 57 ml.
Every drink near the White Russian on the map
Recipe source: Difford's Guide · checked on 3 November 2026