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 Rusty Nail.
Head to head
Black Russian and Rusty Nail side by side: what changes in the recipe, the balance, the strength and the calories.
The difference, by the numbers
They have no ingredient in common: the Black Russian has vodka and coffee liqueur, the Rusty Nail Blended Scotch and Drambuie. In parts, a Black Russian is 2½ vodka and 1 coffee liqueur; a Rusty Nail is 1¾ Scotch and 1 Drambuie. By volume, the Black Russian is 71% spirit and 29% liqueur; the Rusty Nail is 64% spirit and 36% liqueur. Different bottles, similar balance: that makes them close cousins on the ratio map.
The Rusty Nail is the stronger drink in the glass (32.0% ABV against 27.4%) and holds more alcohol (1.58 standard drinks against 1.35). The Rusty Nail has more calories (about 185 against 169), but the Black Russian has more sugar (9.0 g against 7.5 g). Both are built and served in a rocks glass.
Old Fashioneds & Duos · Vodka
The ratio · 2½ : 1
Highlighted: not in the Rusty Nail.
Old Fashioneds & Duos · Scotch
The ratio · 1¾ : 1
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.
Rusty Nail vs.