Black Russian
Old Fashioneds & Duos · Vodka
- Strength
- 27.4%
- Std. drinks
- 1.35
- Calories
- 169
- Sugar
- 9.0 g
- 1¾ ozVodka50 ml
- ¾ ozCoffee liqueur20 ml
The ratio · 2½ : 1
Highlighted: not in the Espresso Martini.
Head to head
Black Russian and Espresso Martini side by side: what changes in the recipe, the balance, the strength and the calories.
The difference
Vodka and coffee liqueur in both. The Black Russian is just those two, built over ice: short, strong and sweet from the liqueur alone. The Espresso Martini adds fresh espresso and syrup and is shaken hard and served up, so it is bigger, sweeter and about half as strong in the glass.
By the numbers
Both have vodka and coffee liqueur. Only the Espresso Martini has simple syrup and coffee. In parts, a Black Russian is 2½ vodka and 1 coffee liqueur; an Espresso Martini is 1¾ vodka, 1 coffee liqueur, ¼ syrup and 1 coffee. By volume, the Black Russian is 71% spirit and 29% liqueur; the Espresso Martini is 42% spirit, 25% mixer and juice, 25% liqueur and 8% syrup and sugar.
The Black Russian is the stronger drink in the glass (27.4% ABV against 13.6%), but the Espresso Martini is the bigger drink, so it holds more alcohol (1.47 standard drinks against 1.35). The Espresso Martini has more calories (about 223 against 169) and more sugar (19.6 g against 9.0 g). The Black Russian is built and served in a rocks glass; the Espresso Martini is shaken and served in a martini glass.
Old Fashioneds & Duos · Vodka
The ratio · 2½ : 1
Highlighted: not in the Espresso Martini.
Creamy & After-Dinner · Vodka
The ratio · 1¾ : 1 : ¼ : 1
Full Espresso Martini recipe →
Highlighted: not in the Black Russian.
Each drink sits nearer the corners it has more of: spirit, vermouth and bitter, citrus, mixer, syrup or liqueur. The gray dots are the other classics. Explore the full ratio map.
Black Russian vs.
Espresso Martini vs.