A white Russian drink is a classic cocktail with vodka, Kahlua and cream (or milk or half and half) that’s perfect for sipping on all winter long.

It’s been a month full of delicious drinks here on the blog.

It started with a lemon drop martini, followed by a peppermint martini and a pomegranate martini, which is one of my faves in the wintertime.

And I just couldn’t let the month slip by without sharing a white Russian.

This classic drink is just perfect for the holidays and wintertime. Or anytime if you’re The Dude.

(I love the Big Lebowski and have probably seen it a dozen times. But I will refrain from making references all throughout this post because, well, that just seems too obvious.)

Also, this drink is worthy enough on its own, aside from its famous appearance in that movie.

The great news, too, is that you just need 3 ingredients for this!

What’s in a white Russian?

1. Vodka
2. Kahlua (or another coffee-flavored liquor)
3. Cream (or sub milk or half and half)

You just need to mix them up and you’re ready to get your drink on. Easy enough, right?

Oh, and if you’re curious, this isn’t really a Russian drink. It’s just called that because of the vodka in it.

And it’s the cream that makes it a white Russian. Without that, it’s called a black Russian. I love a fun fact!

OK, let’s get to making this drink!

Now, I’ve got some notes and tips coming up on how to make a white Russian. Just tryin’ to be helpful.

If you want to jump on down to the recipe, simply scroll right on through the rest of the text. The recipe card is near the bottom of the page, above the comments section.

Notes on making a white Russian drink:

• Be sure to use a good quality vodka for this, as with any martini, because the flavor comes out. Pro tip: It shouldn’t smell like rubbing alcohol.
• Kahlua is my favorite for this drink but you could substitute another coffee-flavored liqueur if you prefer.
• Some people like more and some people like less Kahlua in their drink. The recipe lists 1 to 1 ½ ounces, so you can use that as a general guide and decide what works for you.
• Fresh cream is traditional for this drink. However, whole milk or half and half can be substituted, if that’s what you have on hand.
• I’ve even used soy milk and that worked well too, if you need this to be dairy-free.

As for how to make it and mix it, you’ve got two options.

Mixing a white Russian cocktail:

1. You can shake this drink in a cocktail shaker - which gives it an awesome milkshake like consistency - and then pour it into your glass.
2. Or you can add the ingredients directly to your highball glass and mix them together in the glass.

The recipe card below has both methods, so do what works for you.

If you’ve never had one, I hope you give a white Russian a try soon. And if it’s just been a while, I hope you return to this delicious drink and remember why you love it.

Wishing you merry and bright holidays. Stay safe and enjoy.

Cheers!

XO,

Kathryn