This espresso white Russian cocktail recipe is sweet, rich and perfect for coffee lovers. It’s like a classic white Russian but with an extra shot of espresso coffee. You don’t need a cocktail shaker for this coffee drink, it’s just mixed with a spoon or stirrer.

About this cocktail

A traditional white russian mixes vodka, coffee liqueur, and cream. Adding fresh espresso changes it in the best way. It deepens the flavor, cuts through the sweetness, and gives the whole drink this delicious warm coffee vibe. This is a drink you sip, perfect for slow evenings or when you want a treat that feels special without any fuss .It’s similar to an espresso martini, but with velvety cream.

What you’ll need

Vodka- A good quality one if you can.
Coffee liqueur (like Khalua or Tia Maria)
Espresso coffee, cooled or cold brew.
Heavy cream. This gives the best flavor and creamy texture. Much more so than milk.

Instructions

Fill a short glass with ice.

Pour over an ounce vodka.

Pour over an ounce coffee liqueur.

Add over an ounce of espresso coffee.

Finally, add 1/2 an ounce of heavy cream.

Hint: Make the espresso coffee in advance so it has time to cool before adding to the drink. This ensures it doesn’t melt the ice and dilute the drink too much.

Use a cocktail stirrer or long-handled spoon to briskly stir the drink.

Variations

There are lots of variations of a white Russian.

Blushin Russian – remove the espresso and add 1/2 an ounce of amaretto to create a blushin Russian cocktail.
Blind Russian – Swap the coffee liqueur for Irish cream
Eggnog White Russian – a perfect Christmas cocktail!
Mudslide – Add in Irish cream and double up on the heavy cream to create a mudslide cocktail. I’ve got a decadent Eggnog mudslide on the blog too!
Espresso vodka martini – if you leave out the cream this becomes an espresso martini. If you remove the shot of coffee too it becomes a black Russian.