classic · built
Black Russian recipe
Simple, strong, direct. Vodka and coffee liqueur over ice.
A Black Russian is 60 ml (56.4 g) Vodka and 30 ml (33 g) Kahlúa, built and served in a rocks (old fashioned) glass. It pours to about 90 ml before ice, at roughly 33.3% ABV. Weighing the ingredients instead of measuring them is what keeps the balance identical from one round to the next.
- Glassrocks (old fashioned) glass
- Methodbuilt
- Pour volume90 ml
- Strength (est.)33.3% ABV
- Time2 min
Black Russian ingredients — in millilitres and grams
Grams are what the PourPilot coaster actually targets. They are not the same as the millilitres: a spirit is lighter than water, a syrup is heavier, so 30 ml of one is never 30 g. The right-hand column is the density we use, in grams per millilitre.
| Ingredient | Volume | Weight | g/ml | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vodka | 60 ml | 56.4 g | 0.94 | Weighed by the coaster |
| Kahlúa | 30 ml | 33 g | 1.10 | Weighed by the coaster |
How to make a Black Russian
- Set your rocks (old fashioned) glass on the scale (or on the PourPilot coaster) and zero it. Every measurement below is given in millilitres and in grams, so you can use either.
- Fill the rocks (old fashioned) glass with fresh ice.
- Build Vodka and Kahlúa straight into the glass, weighing each pour.
- Stir once, briefly, to combine.
Black Russian: the questions people actually ask
How strong is a Black Russian?
Roughly 33.3% ABV as poured, before the ice dilutes it — typically another 15–25% water by the time you finish stirring or shaking. Strong. This is a stirred, undiluted-style drink — one is a full measure.
What glass should a Black Russian be served in?
A rocks (old fashioned) glass. One large, clear cube melts slower than four small ones and keeps the drink from watering out.
Can I make a Black Russian without a jigger?
Yes — that is what the gram column is for. Put the glass or tin on a kitchen scale, zero it, and pour to the weight. It is more accurate than a jigger because nothing is left clinging to the inside of the measure. The PourPilot coaster does the same thing without you having to watch a display: it lights up as you approach the target and tells you when to stop.
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