White Russian (cocktail)
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| This drink is designated as an IBA Official Cocktail |
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| White Russian | |
 A White Russian cocktail
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| Type: | Cocktail |
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| Primary alcohol by volume: | |
| Served: | "On the rocks"; poured over ice |
| Standard drinkware: |
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| IBA specified ingredients†: |
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| Preparation: | Pour coffee liqueur and vodka directly into old fashioned glass filled with ice. Float fresh cream on the top and stir in slowly. |
| IBA classifies this as an After Dinner cocktail. | |
- This article is about the alcoholic beverage. For other meanings, see White Russian.
A White Russian is a sweet cocktail made from vodka, coffee liqueur (e.g., Kahlúa or Tia Maria), and cream served in an old-fashioned glass with ice. Milk is often used as a substitute for cream.
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[edit] Origin of the name
The drink is not traditionally Russian, but is so named due to Russian vodka being the primary ingredient. The "White Russians" were an anti-Bolshevik group from the Russian Civil War.
[edit] Popular culture
- White Russians are the favored drink of "The Dude" character in The Big Lebowski (where it is often referred to as a "Caucasian").
- In the movie Catwoman, the title character orders a White Russian with no vodka, no ice, and no Kahlúa, making it simply a glass of cream/milk.
- White Russians gave name to one of professional wrestler The Sandman's signature maneuvers, the White Russian Leg Sweep.
- White Russian was a popular flavor of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, although it is no longer produced. The ice cream was based on the flavor of the drink, and included Kahlúa flavoring.
- The British indie band The Crimea released a single titled "White Russian Galaxy" in 2003. A re-recorded version of the song appeared on their 2006 album Tragedy Rocks, and was again released as a single.
[edit] Preparation notes
As with all cocktails, various modes of preparation exist, varying according to the recipes and styles of particular bars or mixologists. Most common varieties have adjusted amounts of vodka or coffee liqueur, or mixed brands of coffee liqueur. Shaking the cream in order to thicken it prior to pouring it over the drink is also common. It is important to note that Kahlúa is the brand of coffee liqueur most commonly associated with White Russians, mostly because it has become something of a genericized trademark for coffee liqueur; a recipe for the beverage is also present on the back of a bottle of Kahlúa.
[edit] Variations
- See also: Black Russian
[edit] Variations in alcohol
- Colorado Bulldog — use vanilla vodka and add cola to taste.
- White Canuck use Polar Ice Vodka and two maraschino cherries.
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- Popularized at Barney's in London, Ontario in the late 1990s.[citation needed]
- White Cuban — substitute rum for vodka.
- White Trash — substitute whiskey for vodka.
- Gay Russian — substitute cherry brandy for kahlua.
- Dublin Bulldog — use vanilla vodka and add cola, substitute creme de menthe for kahlua
[edit] Fresh cream substitutions
- Anna Kournikova — substitute skim milk.
- Bolshevik or Blonde Russian — substitute Irish Cream (e.g., Baileys) liqueur for fresh cream.
- Brown Russian — substitute milk with powdered chocolate (e.g., O'boy).
- Cocaine Lady — substitute peppermint liqueur and milk.
- Colin Powell — substitute preprepared chocolate milk.
- Dirty Russian — substitute milk with chocolate syrup.
- Jason Gordon — substitute crushed papaya.
- Russian Yoo-Hoo substitute Yoo-hoo chocolate beverage.
- Twiz Twist — substitute licorice extract.
- White Almond — substitute Almond milk.
- White Canadian — substitute whole goat's milk.
- White Vegan — substitute soy milk
- Yellow Russian or Ho-Ho Express — substitute eggnog.
- Siberian — substitute eggnog and peppermint liquer.
- Stacey-Lee — substitute tequila.
[edit] Additions
- Larry's White Russian — add coconut flavored white rum (e.g. Malibu).
- Mikhail Gorbachev — top with dash of chocolate syrup.
- Russian Bulldog — add cola to taste.
- White Meseta — top off with a shot of bourbon (e.g., Maker's Mark).
- Van Halen Special — Add Amaretto & Rum (Served in Voodoo Lounge, French Quarter, New Orleans, LA)
- Polish Winter — add Vanilla ice cream to the mix and blend in a blender
- Russian Bride — add Creme de Cacao
