My Bar Bible / Cocktails / Black Russian vs White Russian
Black Russian vs White Russian
What is the difference between a Black Russian and a White Russian? Here are both recipes side by side, with exact measures, and what actually sets them apart.
The difference
- Both use vodka and coffee liqueur.
- Only the White Russian has fresh cream.
- The Black Russian is the stronger drink: about 31% against about 21% once diluted.
Black Russian
| Vodka | 50 ml |
| Coffee liqueur | 20 ml |
Gustave Tops, Hotel Metropole, Brussels, 1949, for the American ambassador Perle Mesta.
White Russian
| Vodka | 50 ml |
| Coffee liqueur | 20 ml |
| Fresh cream | 30 ml |
The Black Russian with cream, made famous again by the film The Big Lebowski.