The Black Russian is a cocktail

Cocktail

A cocktail is an alcoholic mixed drink that contains two or more ingredients—at least one of the ingredients must be a spirit.Cocktails were originally a mixture of spirits, sugar, water, and bitters. The word has come to mean almost any mixed drink that contains alcohol...

 of vodka

Vodka

Vodka , is a distilled beverage. It is composed primarily of water and ethanol with traces of impurities and flavorings. Vodka is made by the distillation of fermented substances such as grains, potatoes, or sometimes fruits....

 and coffee liqueur (usually three parts vodka to two parts coffee liqueur, per the Kahlúa

Kahlúa

Kahlúa is a Mexican coffee-flavored rum-based liqueur. It is dense and sweet, with the distinct taste of coffee, from which it is made. Kahlúa also contains sugar, corn syrup and vanilla bean.-History:...

 bottle's label, or five parts vodka to two parts coffee liqueur, per IBA

IBA Official Cocktail

An IBA Official Cocktail is one of many cocktails selected by the International Bartenders Association for use in the annual World Cocktail Competition in bartending...

 specified ingredients) and sometimes mixed with Cola. When topped with Cola, it is referred to as a Dirty Black Russian, as opposed to Clean when without it. Traditionally the drink is made by pouring the vodka over ice cube

Ice cube

Ice cubes are small, roughly cube-shaped pieces of ice, conventionally used to cool beverages. Ice cubes are often preferred over crushed ice because they melt more slowly; they are standard in mixed drinks that call for ice, in which case the drink is said to be "on the rocks."Ice cubes are...

s or cracked ice in an old-fashioned glass, followed by the coffee liqueur.

This combination first appeared in 1949, and is ascribed to Gustave Tops, a Belgian

Demographics of Belgium

This article is about the demographic features of the population of Belgium, including ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population...

 barman

Bartender

A bartender is a person who serves beverages behind a counter in a bar, pub, tavern, or similar establishment. A bartender, in short, "tends the bar". The term barkeeper may carry a connotation of being the bar's owner...

, who created it at the Hotel Metropole

Hotel Metropole, Brussels

The Hotel Metropole, built in 1895, is the only nineteenth-century hotel in Brussels still in operation today. The hotel has 298 rooms and 15 suites.In 1890, two brothers with a brewing company opened Café Metropole as a place in the city to sell their beer...

 in Brussels

Brussels

Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...

 in honor of Perle Mesta

Perle Mesta

Perle Skirvin Mesta was an American socialite, political hostess, and U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg ....

, then U.S.

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 ambassador

Ambassador

An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....

 to Luxembourg

Luxembourg

Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...

. The cocktail owes its name to the use of vodka, a stereotypical Russian spirit, and the blackness of the coffee liqueur.

Variations

• A variation is the Tall Black Russian, which is prepared in the same manner as the Black Russian, but served in a taller glass and topped up with Cola
  Cola
  Cola is a carbonated beverage that was typically flavored by the kola nut as well as vanilla and other flavorings, however, some colas are now flavored artificially. It became popular worldwide after druggist John Pemberton invented Coca-Cola in 1886...
  
  .
• The Black Magic, a sour twist on the Black Russian, can be made by adding a dash of lemon juice and a lemon twist garnish.
• When finished with a head of Guinness
  Guinness
  Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost...
  
   stout, the result is called an Irish Russian or a Smooth Black Russian.
• The Brown Russian is a highball
  Highball
  Highball is a type of alcoholic drinkHighball may also refer to:* Highball glass, a drinking vessel* Highball Wilson , professional baseball pitcher* the British Highball bouncing bomb project from World War 2...
  
   version in which the rest of the glass is filled with Ginger Ale
  Ginger ale
  Ginger ale is a carbonated soft drink flavored with ginger. Dr. Thomas Cantrell, an American apothecary and surgeon, claimed to have invented ginger ale and marketed it with beverage manufacturer Grattan and Company. Grattan embossed the slogan "The Original Makers of Ginger Ale" on its bottles...
  
  .
• Peri's Black Russian is the same as the Dirty Black Russian, but with the addition of Vanilla Vodka instead of the plain Vodka used.
• Vader is the same as the traditional Black Russian, but with the addition of Jagermeister.

See also

• White Russian
  White Russian (cocktail)
  A White Russian is a sweet cocktail made with vodka, coffee liqueurs , and cream served with ice in an Old Fashioned glass...
  
  , which adds a dairy ingredient (usually cream) to the drink