by Frances Taylor

Created on: June 06, 2010

How to Make a Black Russian.

The quintessential after dinner drink for over 60 years, the Black Russian has captivated diners since its conception in Brussels, 1949.  So called because of its vodka base, a traditional Russian spirit, and the black colour of the coffee liqueur, the Black Russian is both sharp and sweet, sophisticated and alluring.

Making a Black Russian at home is remarkably simple, as it only requires two liquors; vodka, and a coffee liqueur, such as Kahlua, or Tia Maria.

Begin by adding ice to a tumbler or rocks glass.  You can use ice cubes straight from the freezer, cracked ice, or even crushed ice for a more unusual twist.

Next, measure 1 ½ oz of vodka, and pour over the ice. Pour ½ oz of the coffee liqueur over the top, and stir with a straw, or a tea spoon.  If you or your guest prefer less Kahlua, use five parts vodka, and two parts coffee liqueur.  This will make the Black Russian less sweet, and less viscose.  If you prefer to have a stronger coffee flavour, use five parts vodka and three parts coffee liqueur.  Your Black Russian will be a little thicker, and sweeter.  Experiment with your cocktail to get the proportions right for you.

When choosing a vodka, opt for a mid-range bottle.  If you go for a value brand, your Black Russian may taste too harsh, as the cheap vodkas are not know to be as smooth tasting.  However, remember that you are adding a flavoured liqueur to the vodka, so spending on a really high end vodka would be wasteful, as you will not be able to appreciate the vodka's true, unique flavouring.

Both Tia Maria and Kahlua are widely available from supermarkets and liquor stores, and are both reasonably priced.  Both are flavoured with coffee beans, sugar, and vanilla, the only distinction being Tia Maria is Jamaican in origin, whilst Kahlua is Mexican.

To garnish your Black Russian, you can spear a single maraschino cherry on a cocktail stick and rest it across the top of the glass.  Be careful not to go overboard though, don’t risk over-sweetening your cocktail, or masking the distinctive flavour of this after dinner classic.

Let your senses linger over this cocktail, and enjoy responsibly!

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