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Cocktail History
The White Russian is a classic cocktail that was created in the mid-1900s but rose to prominence after being featured in the 1998 movie The Big Lebowski. The original recipe traditionally calls for a simple mixture of vodka, coffee liqueur, and heavy cream, but this variation created by Toby Cecchini and published in The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks is more complex. It swaps out the base spirit for a Jamaican rum, adds a unique amaro, and floats a whipped nutty cream mixture on top.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Dark Rum: This is a type of rum made with sugarcane, spices, and water that has been barrel aged for a long period of time. We used Flor De Caña 4 Year Añego Oro Rum because it has light and airy aromas of vanilla and almond with flavors of white chocolate and citrus. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Caleño Non-Alcoholic Dark & Spicy Tropical Spirit in place of the rum.
Coffee Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with coffee, spices, sugar, and alcohol. We used Trader Vic’s Kona Coffee Liqueur because it has a delicious and robust coffee flavor. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Lyre’s Coffee Original Non-Alcoholic Spirit in place of the coffee liqueur.
Amaro Abano: This is a digestif made in Italy with bitter orange peels, herbs, spices, and alcohol. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Dr. Zero Zero ArmarNo Non-Alcoholic Amaro in place of the amaro.
Amaretto Liqueur: This is a liqueur made in Italy with almonds, spices, and alcohol. We used Di Amore Amaretto Liqueur because it has a strong almond flavor and a smooth texture. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Monin Premium Amaretto Syrup in place of the amaretto liqueur.
Heavy Cream: This is a thick, high-fat milk product. We used use half & half instead of heavy cream because it’s lower in calories. For a dairy-free version of this drink, try Silk Dairy-Free Heavy Whipping Cream Alternative in place of the cream.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. We used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. We used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. We used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.
Tasting Notes
The White Russian features distinct almond and coffee aromas, the banana taste of the Jamaican rum front and center on the sip, deep notes of coffee while holding in the mouth and after you swallow, and a nutty aftertaste from the amaretto.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: The Luxardo Amaro gives an extra bit of chocolatey spice to the whole experience, setting this one apart as the top contender for best White Russian riff either of us had ever had.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks by the editors of PUNCH and Megan Krigbaum.
Add heavy cream and amaretto liqueur to a shaker.
Dry shake for 10 seconds.
Pour into a glass.
Add rum, coffee liqueur, Amaro Abano, and cubed ice to shaker.
Shake for 10-20 more seconds.
Strain into a lowball glass.
Carefully float cream on top.
Ingredients
Directions
Add heavy cream and amaretto liqueur to a shaker.
Dry shake for 10 seconds.
Pour into a glass.
Add rum, coffee liqueur, Amaro Abano, and cubed ice to shaker.
Shake for 10-20 more seconds.
Strain into a lowball glass.
Carefully float cream on top.
Make It a Mocktail: Use Caleño Non-Alcoholic Dark & Spicy Tropical Spirit in place of the rum, Lyre’s Coffee Original Non-Alcoholic Spirit in place of the coffee liqueur, Dr. Zero Zero ArmarNo Non-Alcoholic Amaro in place of the amaro, and Monin Premium Amaretto Syrup in place of the amaretto liqueur to try a booze-free version of this drink.
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More Coffee Cocktails
If you like this coffee-flavored cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:
The Marriage of Maguey: A mezcal and tequila cocktail made with coffee chocolate liqueur, orange curaçao, and agave syrup
El Duque: A rum and cream sherry cocktail made with cold-brew coffee, chocolate bitters, and a lemon twist
Sabueso Old Fashioned: A tequila and mezcal cocktail made with caramel coffee syrup, coffee and chocolate bitters, and an orange peel
Mocha Rum Toddy: A rum cocktail made with coffee, dark crème de cacao, simple syrup, whipped cream, and cocoa powder
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