Hot-Tail: How to Make a (Hot) White Russian
Creamy with a hint of rich coffee liqueur and a vodka base, a White Russian is a decadent yet simple cocktail traditionally served on the rocks. But to us, any drink involving cream and coffee is just asking to be served warm. Whatever your taste, the White Russian is incredibly easy to make, so you can easily experiment with a few different versions. Try the traditional White Russian over ice or cozy up with a warm mug of our hot-tail version.
What’s in a White Russian?
A traditional White Russian involves just three ingredients:
- Heavy cream
- Coffee-based liqueur (usually Kahlúa)
- Vodka
As you may have guessed, the drink gets its name because of the vodka. Otherwise, it actually has no ties to Russia.
On the rocks, it’s the perfect after dinner drink, and our warm version is a tasty way to dress up your coffee for a fun morning brunch or cozy night in. Here’s everything you’ll need to make a White Russian at home:
Our hot-tail version White Russian keeps all the classic ingredients and adds just a few extra ounces of warm coffee. The addition makes the drink a bit less rich and ideal for sipping and savoring.
Drinking Temperature
Served at 133°F (56°C)
Ingredients
- 1 oz Kahlúa (or other coffee liqueur)
- 2 oz vodka
- 1- 2 oz heavy cream according to taste
- 4 oz freshly brewed coffee
- Nutmeg for garnish (optional)
Directions
- Pour vodka, Kahlúa, and coffee into your Ember mug and stir gently to combine
- Pour heavy cream over the top. Stir if desired or allow it to mix naturally
Fun Fact
The White Russian had somewhat fallen out of popularity until “the Dude” – Jeff Bridges’ character in the cult classic The Big Lebowski – brought it back into the spotlight.
And thank goodness he did because the White Russian is as versatile as it is delicious.
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