Black Russian

IBA

Bartender Gustave Tops created this drink in 1949 at the Hotel Metropole in Brussels, reportedly in honor of the American ambassador to Luxembourg, Perle Mesta. The combination is arrestingly straightforward — vodka's neutral strength amplifies the roasted coffee and dark caramel character of Kahlúa rather than competing with it, producing a drink that is darkly rich and unapologetically spirit-forward.

DigestifCoffeeSpirit-ForwardClassic

Ingredients

  • 2 ozVodka
  • 1 ozKahlúa

Preparation

Built · rocks glass · cubed

  1. 1.

    build

    Pour vodka and Kahlúa into a rocks glass over ice.

  2. 2.

    stir

    Stir gently to combine.

Flavor Profile

sweet
22%
heat
21%
body
19%
viscosity
16%
earthy
13%
bitter
9%