Exploring the White Russian Cocktail: Layers of Flavor and Fact

Today, I had a cup of White Russian. In reality, it was just Black Russian with an extra layer of whipped cream.

Ingredients: 2 oz Vodka, 1 oz Kahlur, heavy creme
Method: Fill a frozen classical glass with ice cubes, mix and caf latte, stir well, add whipped cream, take a photo, and enjoy after blending.

The top layer of foam resembles that of a ’s whipped cream. Since creme is sweet, it complements the alcohol nicely. I wonder if I prefer salty whipped cream over sweet ones when having . Maybe one day, I can try to replicate it.

Note: The “White” in White Russian refers both to the white appearance from the whipped cream and a historical debate about whether it symbolizes the (White Army) opposing the during the 1920s. However, subsequent research indicates that neither Black Russian nor White Russian has any direct connection to Russia; these were created in the early 1960s and are modern beverages. The only link might be their use of , which is the national spirit of Russia.

Another cold fact: Everyone knows names like Vodka are not made in Russia. For instance, Swedish brand Absolute uses absinthe as its base (originating from the French company Absolut Eau de Vodou), which was initially named after a duck but later changed to “goose.” There’s also Smirnoff) (the world’s best-selling vodka), Finnish Finlandia, American Pinky and Skyy (its name sounds like a pair). One I particularly love is Stolichnaya , also known as . Though it was made in the Soviet Union, its current headquarters are in Luxembourg. Its history includes being involved in the Siege of Leningrad, and it was exported to the U.S. under ’s label by sellingbeer in exchange for soft drinks. After the Soviet Union dissolved, the brand was privatized and moved its headquarters to Luxembourg.

Interestingly, during periods of sanctions against Russia, there were massive protests in the U.S. against Smirnoff, which tried hard to clarify its American origin despite being a Russian-made product made in the U.S. Some anti activities also emerged against Stolichnaya but later turned out to be misguided since the brand had already been sold to U.S. interests through an offshore shell company.

One of my favorite brands is American Skyy, which I first tasted during my university years while dining alone at a restaurant. I ordered a on the rock (a rocks glass with ice cubes), and it was such a refreshing drink that I drank it all in one go later that night. The experience of sipping it made me realize how rare it is to have a truly memorable alcohol experience, which has stayed with me ever since.

The discussion about Russians’ drinking habits also touched upon a podcast episode titled Ep 87 | (Let’s Drink to the Red Army!). Russians have unique ways of drinking. Their alcohol consumption isn’t as high as in the U.S. or Europe, but their drinking culture is rich and varied, especially during prohibition when they consumed inferior spirits and drank odd mixtures like soap cleaner auto oil disinfectant, and even shot put competitions. They also enjoy extreme cold, dying in frigid temperatures on the streets of Moscow. The podcast includes many humorous stories about Russians’ unique drinking habits, which is fascinating.

One funny fact I heard is that during a Russian thaw, a tourist tried to buy a bottle of Stolichnaya from a random store but was turned down because the brand’s headquarters had moved to Luxembourg. This makes me think that maybe even now they still don’t consider Stolichnaya truly Russian.