The Black Russian is a cocktail of vodka and coffee liqueur. It contains 50 ml vodka and 20 ml coffee liqueur, per IBA specified ingredients.[1]
| IBA official cocktail | |
|---|---|
 A black Russian cocktail | |
| Type | Cocktail |
| Base spirit | |
| Served | On the rocks: poured over ice |
| Standard drinkware |  |
| IBA specified ingredients† |
|
| Preparation | Pour the ingredients into the old fashioned glass filled with ice cubes. Stir gently. |
| Commonly served | After dinner |
| † Black Russian recipe at International Bartenders Association | |
The drink is made by pouring the vodka and coffee liqueur over ice cubes or cracked ice in an old-fashioned glass and stirring.[2] The Black Russian is often garnished with a lemon slice and a Luxardo maraschino cherry on a stick.[3]
History
editThe Black Russian cocktail first appeared in 1949 and is ascribed to Gustave Tops, a Belgian barman, who created it at the Hotel Metropole in Brussels in honor of Perle Mesta, then United States Ambassador to Luxembourg.[4] The cocktail owes its name to the use of vodka, a typical Russian spirit, and the blackness of the coffee liqueur.
Variations
edit- Dirty Black Russian, Tall Black Russian, Australian Black Russian or Colorado Bulldog: served in a highball glass and topped up with cola.[5]
- Black Magic: served with a dash of lemon juice and a lemon twist to garnish.[6]
- Irish Russian or Smooth Black Russian: served with a head of Guinness.[4][7]
- Brown Russian: served in a highball glass and topped with ginger ale.[8]
- Belarusian or white Russian: served with milk or cream.[1]
- Mudslide: served with Irish cream, either fresh cream or ice cream, with or without chocolate sauce rim.[9]
- Mind Eraser: topped up with sparkling water.[10]
- Paralyzer: Made with cola and milk in addition to vodka and coffee liqueur.[11]
Cultural impact
edit- The cocktail is mentioned by the Italian judicial and criminal witness Alberto Biggiogero during testimony in the trial concerning the death of Giuseppe Uva, a case covered by the television program Un giorno in pretura.
- In the film The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear, the protagonist Frank Drebin (played by Leslie Nielsen) orders the famous drink in one scene.
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b "Black Russian". IBA World. 29 April 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-06-09. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ "SpiritDrinks.com - Black Russian". SpiritDrinks. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
- ^ "Black Russian". Difford's Guide for Discerning Drinkers. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ a b Regan, Gary (8 September 2008). "Behind The Drink: Black Russian". Liquor.com. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
- ^ "Tall Black Russian". Fluid Trade. Archived from the original on November 3, 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2010.
- ^ "Black Magic". in-the-spirit.co.uk. Archived from the original on November 5, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2010.
- ^ "Smooth Black Russian recipe". DrinksMixer.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2010.
- ^ "Brown Russian". SpiritDrinks. Retrieved July 23, 2010.
- ^ "Mudslide". Difford's Guide. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ^ "The Mind Eraser: Vodka Drinks We Love". Liquor.com. Retrieved 2021-06-13.
- ^ "Vodka Paralyzer". All Recipes. Retrieved 11 March 2023.