White Russian (cocktail) White Russian (cocktail) A White Russian is a cocktail made with vodka, coffee liqueur (e.g., Kahlúa or Tia Maria), and cream served with ice in an Old Fashioned glass. Often milk will be used as an alternative to cream. The traditional cocktail known as a Black Russian, which first appeared in 1949, becomes a White Russian with the addition of cream. Neither drink is Russian in origin, but both are so named due to vodka being the primary ingredient. It is unclear which drink preceded the other. The "Oxford English Dictionary" refers to the first mention of the word "White
Stinger (cocktail) de menthe. The mixture was originally stirred, although modern recipes call for it to be shaken with cracked ice. Early recipes required that the Stinger be served straight, but since the end of Prohibition in the United States it became more common for it to be served over crushed ice. Cognac, a type of brandy, was the identified as the basis for the Stinger as early as William "Cocktail" Boothby's 1905 supplement to his 1900 book, "American Bar-Tender". In the 21st century, cognac was the most commonly used brandy cited by recipes for the Stinger's base liquor. Cocktail guides recommend