Classic White Russian Cocktail Recipe

There's no cocktail quite like the classic White Russian, and it proves time and again that dairy and booze have a rightful place together. No cocktail with the word "Russian" in the title would be complete without vodka, so you'll find some of that in here, but things get interesting with the addition of Kahlua and heavy cream. With every sip, you can expect some strong coffee flavors to come through, along with some creaminess, and of course, booziness from the vodka and coffee liqueur. 

Recipe developer Christina Musgrave has crafted this classic rendition of the very famous cocktail, and she likes that it keeps things simple and no-frills. "My favorite thing about this cocktail is how easy it is," she describes. "With a world of complex cocktails, it's refreshing to make an easy, 3 ingredient cocktail!" It's true, you could spend a bunch of money and try to concoct the most complex cocktail out there, but the thrill might wear off pretty quickly once the cocktail is gone in a mere three sips. This one is a classic for a reason — give this White Russian recipe a spin the next time you want something a little bit sweet, a little bit creamy, and a whole lot delicious. 

Like we've already covered, there are only three ingredients that go into a White Russian: vodka, Kahlua, which is a coffee liqueur, and heavy cream. So, check your bar cart for those first two ingredients and your fridge for the last one, otherwise a quick trip to the liquor store will be necessary. 

Add the vodka, Kahlua, and heavy cream right into a cocktail shaker. Top it all off with some ice, then pop the lid on and start shake, shake, shaking! Not only do you want to thoroughly combine all the liquids, but you also want to chill the cocktail, as this one will not be served on the rocks. 

With the cocktail all shaken up, go ahead and strain it right into a chilled old-fashioned cocktail glass. Then, you're ready to sip away. 

"The cocktail is full of creamy coffee flavors," Musgrave describes, and she feels that these flavors work best "in the fall and winter when the weather is chilly." That said, you absolutely can — and should — enjoy a White Russian year-round.