Kahlúa Coffee Liqueur
Kahlúa is the most popular, classic coffee liqueur for a White Russian. Made with rum and real coffee beans, Kahlúa provides a sweet and slightly bitter coffee flavor that forms the backbone of the cocktail. We think its syrupy consistency also adds a nice body to the drink. When it comes to taste, Kahlúa has a smooth combination of coffee, vanilla and chocolate hints that complement the creaminess of your White Russian, while the sweetness also balances out the strength of the vodka. That’s why we strongly feel Kahlúa is the most natural fit. Get more info and find buy options on our Kahlúa Products page .
Absolut Vodka
The vodka adds an alcohol punch to your White Russian without adding too much flavor, allowing the coffee and cream to shine. We prefer Absolut Vodka because of its clean and neutral profile that helps perfectly balance the sweetness of the Kahlúa and the richness of the heavy cream. That said, if you don’t have Absolut on hand, feel free to experiment with other brands since this drink doesn’t rely on a specific flavor from the vodka. Or if you don’t like vodka, you can try the Mexican White Russian with tequila.
Heavy cream
This gives your drink its creamy indulgence. Heavy cream adds a luxurious, rich texture and balances out the strong flavor of the Kahlúa coffee liqueur and the sharpness of the vodka. Creating a smooth and mellow mouthfeel. In our experience, heavy or full cream is best, but some of our friends prefer full-fat or plant-based cream or milk. It’s up to your personal preference. For a lighter option, try half-and-half, or for an even lighter alternative, you can even use milk. But we think it doesn’t taste as decadent. For a dairy-free option, you can use almond milk, coconut milk or oat milk. Our personal favorite is oat milk since it mimics the creamy texture well and still creates that dramatic marbled effect.
Ice
It helps create a smooth, balanced White Russian by keeping it chilled and ensures the cream and alcohol mix well. Ice also slightly dilutes the drink as it melts. We’ve tried all types of ice over the years and strongly recommend using large ice cubes for this cocktail instead of small pieces that may make the drink dilute faster. But as always, we say just use what you have at home.
Glass
The traditional glass to use for a White Russian is a rocks glass or an Old Fashioned glass. We usually use a short tumbler glass, which does the job. We won’t hold it against you if you use another type of glass, as long as it’s not too big for the amount of ingredients in the recipe. Our pro tip is to pre-chill the glass before serving the drink to stop the ice from melting too fast and diluting the drink.
Jigger or Measuring Tool
This is for measuring the equal parts of the Kahlúa, Absolut Vodka, and heavy cream in your White Russian. If you don’t have a specific tool at home, our tip is to simply use a tablespoon, shot glass or a measuring cup instead.
Stirrer or Bar Spoon
You’ll need this to gently mix your White Russian without disturbing the layering too much. Yes, we know not everyone has a bar spoon at home, so you can simply use a teaspoon with a long handle to slowly stir the drink.
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