Tequila and coffee liqueur over ice, with a squeeze of lime and a pinch of salt. It is worth saying plainly at the start: this is not a Black Russian.
What a Black Russian actually is
Two ingredients. Vodka and coffee liqueur, poured over ice in a rocks glass at roughly two parts to one, and stirred. That is the entire drink, and it has been since it was invented in Brussels in the late 1940s.
There is no tequila in it, no lime and no salt.
So what is this drink
Tequila with coffee liqueur has its own name: it is a Brave Bull. Same proportions, same method, different spirit, and it is a perfectly good drink that has simply been filed here under the wrong label.
The lime and salt are not part of either classic. They are the tequila drinker's reflex, and they do work here, cutting the sweetness of the liqueur the same way they cut a straight shot.
Making either one
- Black Russian: 2 parts vodka, 1 part coffee liqueur, over ice, stirred.
- Brave Bull: the same with tequila instead of vodka.
- White Russian: a Black Russian with cream floated on top.
- Espresso martini: vodka, coffee liqueur and a shot of actual espresso, shaken rather than stirred.
None of them needs a shaker. Stirring is correct for spirit-only drinks: shaking adds air and cloudiness that these do not want.
The liqueur
Kahlúa is the default and the one most recipes assume. Tia Maria is lighter and less sweet. Any coffee liqueur works, and the difference between them shows more here than in a drink with juice in it, since there are only two ingredients to hide behind.
More drinks
- Carajillo — the hot version of coffee with a shot in it.
- Whiskey Sour — with the egg white foam.
- Coffee dessert — the same flavour, set with gelatine.
- Cappuccino — no alcohol involved.
Black Russian FAQ
Vodka and coffee liqueur, roughly two parts to one, poured over ice and stirred. That is the whole drink. There is no tequila, no lime and no cream in it.
A Brave Bull. Same proportions and same method, with tequila in place of the vodka. It is a recognised drink in its own right, not a mistaken Black Russian.
Cream. A White Russian is a Black Russian with cream floated on top, which softens it considerably and turns it into something closer to a dessert.
No. Drinks made only of spirits are stirred, because shaking adds air bubbles and cloudiness. Shaking is for drinks with juice, egg or cream in them.
Kahlúa is the default and what most recipes assume. Tia Maria is lighter and less sweet. With only two ingredients in the glass the difference between brands is more noticeable here than in a mixed drink.
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 ounces tequila (for a true Black Russian, use vodka instead)
- 2 ounces coffee liqueur (Kahlúa is the standard)
- 1 ounce lime juice (not in the classic version, but it cuts the sweetness)
- A pinch of salt (brings the tequila forward)
- 7 ice cubes
Notas
Instructions
- Put the ice in a shaker and pour the tequila over it, enough to cover the ice.
- Add the coffee liqueur and stir.
- Add the lime juice and the pinch of salt, and stir gently.
- Pour into the glass with the ice and serve.
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