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 White Russian.
Head to head
Black Russian and White Russian side by side: what changes in the recipe, the balance, the strength and the calories.
The difference
The White Russian is a Black Russian with cream floated on top, and a bigger pour of both spirits. The cream makes it softer and richer, and nearly doubles the calories.
By the numbers
Both have vodka and coffee liqueur. Only the White Russian has cream. In parts, a Black Russian is 2½ vodka and 1 coffee liqueur; a White Russian is 2 vodka, 1 coffee liqueur and 1 cream. By volume, the Black Russian is 71% spirit and 29% liqueur; the White Russian is 50% spirit, 25% mixer and juice and 25% liqueur.
The Black Russian is the stronger drink in the glass (27.4% ABV against 21.1%), but the White Russian is the bigger drink, so it holds more alcohol (1.69 standard drinks against 1.35). The White Russian has more calories (about 323 against 169) and more sugar (14.4 g against 9.0 g). Both are built and served in a rocks glass.
Old Fashioneds & Duos · Vodka
The ratio · 2½ : 1
Highlighted: not in the White Russian.
Creamy & After-Dinner · Vodka
The ratio · 2 : 1 : 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.
White Russian vs.