Here is a little Halloween trickery: this “Black Russian” is really a White Russian wearing a costume. A pinch of black edible glitter turns the creamy drink a swirling, stormy gray-black.
Ingredients
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz coffee liqueur
- 1 oz cream or half and half
- A pinch of black edible glitter
- Ice
Method
- Fill a short glass with ice.
- Add the vodka and coffee liqueur.
- Pour the cream over the top.
- Sprinkle in the glitter and give it one slow stir, so guests can watch it swirl.
Why it works
This is the creamy pattern: spirit plus liqueur plus cream. Vodka adds strength without flavor, the coffee liqueur brings sweetness and roast, and the cream softens it all.
Swaps and notes
- A real Black Russian is just the vodka and coffee liqueur over ice, with no cream. Try both side by side to taste what the cream does.
- Pumpkin spice version: replace the cream with 1/2 oz Pumpkin Spice RumChata (or more to taste).
- Use glitter labeled “edible” only. See Mixers and Mixing for why.
- Contains: dairy, caffeine.
How strong is it?
About 1.7 standard drinks as a full cocktail. Split four ways for a tasting, about 0.4 each.
Served at our Halloween Kickoff.