Black Russian

This article is about a cocktail. For African diaspora in Russia, see Afro-Russian. For other uses, see Black Russian (disambiguation).

The Black Russian is a cocktail of vodka and coffee liqueur. It contains 50 ml vodka and 20 ml coffee liqueur, per IBA specified ingredients.^[1]

Black Russian

IBA official cocktail
A black Russian cocktail
Type	Cocktail
Base spirit	Vodka
Served	On the rocks: poured over ice
Standard drinkware	Old fashioned glass
IBA specified ingredients†	50 ml Vodka 20 ml Coffee liqueur
Preparation	Pour the ingredients into the old fashioned glass filled with ice cubes. Stir gently.
Commonly served	After dinner
† Black Russian recipe at International Bartenders Association

The drink is made by pouring the vodka and coffee liqueur over ice cubes or cracked ice in an old-fashioned glass and stirring.^[2] The Black Russian is often garnished with a lemon slice and a Luxardo maraschino cherry on a stick.^[3]

History

The Black Russian cocktail first appeared in 1949 and is ascribed to Gustave Tops, a Belgian barman, who created it at the Hotel Metropole in Brussels in honor of Perle Mesta, then United States Ambassador to Luxembourg.^[4] The cocktail owes its name to the use of vodka, a typical Russian spirit, and the blackness of the coffee liqueur.

Variations

• Dirty Black Russian, Tall Black Russian, Australian Black Russian or Colorado Bulldog: served in a highball glass and topped up with cola.^[5]
• Black Magic: served with a dash of lemon juice and a lemon twist to garnish.^[6]
• Irish Russian or Smooth Black Russian: served with a head of Guinness.^[4][7]
• Brown Russian: served in a highball glass and topped with ginger ale.^[8]
• Belarusian or white Russian: served with milk or cream.^[1]
• Mudslide: served with Irish cream, either fresh cream or ice cream, with or without chocolate sauce rim.^[9]
• Mind Eraser: topped up with sparkling water.^[10]
• Paralyzer: Made with cola and milk in addition to vodka and coffee liqueur.^[11]

See also

• List of cocktails
• Liquor portal

References

1. "Black Russian". IBA World. 29 April 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-06-09. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
2. "SpiritDrinks.com - Black Russian". SpiritDrinks. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
3. "Black Russian". Difford's Guide for Discerning Drinkers. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
4. Regan, Gary (8 September 2008). "Behind The Drink: Black Russian". Liquor.com. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
5. "Tall Black Russian". Fluid Trade. Archived from the original on November 3, 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2010.
6. "Black Magic". in-the-spirit.co.uk. Archived from the original on November 5, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2010.
7. "Smooth Black Russian recipe". DrinksMixer.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2010.
8. "Brown Russian". SpiritDrinks. Retrieved July 23, 2010.
9. "Mudslide". Difford's Guide. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
10. "The Mind Eraser: Vodka Drinks We Love". Liquor.com. Retrieved 2021-06-13.
11. "Vodka Paralyzer". All Recipes. Retrieved 11 March 2023.