White Russians are a creamy, rich cocktail with the coffee flavors shining through and mingling with the vodka and coffee liqueur. However, a Bailey's white Russian elevates this classic cocktail to a new level. When you're ready for a treat, stir up this creamy delight.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce coffee liqueur
- 1 ounce Bailey's Irish Cream
- Ice
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, add ice, vodka, and coffee liqueur.
- Top off with Bailey's Irish Cream.
Variations and Substitutions
The white Russian can easily be modified to best suit different flavor profiles without losing its original roots.
- A flavored vodka, caramel, vanilla, or whipped cream, can create a new twist.
- Consider equal parts, half-ounce each, vodka with rum or bourbon.
- Add a quarter to half-ounce of a flavored liqueur or syrup, such as almond, hazelnut, chocolate, raspberry, cinnamon, or any flavor you'd add to a coffee.
- Use a flavored Bailey's; strawberries & cream, red velvet, and espresso cream all pair well.
- A few dashes of bitters--aromatic, chocolate, smoked--all add a hint of flavor without additional sweetness.
- Chilled coffee or espresso adds a stronger coffee flavor.
Garnishes
The typical White Russian doesn't include a garnish, but that doesn't mean you can't dress it up anyway.
- Add an orange peel for a light citrus flavor.
- Garnish with three whole coffee beans.
- Top with whipped cream, maybe sprinkling some ground cinnamon or nutmeg as well.
- Use fresh whole berries that complement any added flavors-- or just because!
- Swirl a small amount of chocolate syrup down the inside of the glass for a decadent, richer flavor.
- Add a small swirl of caramel to the top.
About the Bailey's White Russian
In spite of its name, the classic white Russian has no known Russian roots, but many point to the vodka base as the root of its name. It's a result of adding cream to a black Russian, a mix of just vodka and Kahlúa. But no one knows which cocktail came first. The classic White Russian first appeared in print around the 1960s and remained a constant throughout the decades, with recipes changing and beginning to include Bailey's Irish Cream. However, it slowly dropped in popularity as each year passed.
The cocktail went through a booming resurgence in the late 1990s thanks to pop culture. From there, it became a star once more. Since then, it continues to go in and out of fashion, but with so many flavors of Irish cream, and coffee in the world now, there's an endless number of combinations to consider.
Bailey's and White Russians
You may continue to consider a white Russian an outdated drink at first, but after a few sips, you'll be sold on why it's managed to remain relevant for so long. With so many possibilities of flavors, it's no wonder that a Bailey's white Russian is the ultimate one.
Can't get enough Baileys? Who could blame you! Try these sweet Baileys shot recipes.
