This Vegan White Russian cocktail is made with vodka, coffee liqueur, and coconut milk. It's dairy-free so that all your guests can have a glass. Cheers!

Photography Credit: Garrett McCord

Fun fact: The White Russian isn’t Russian at all, but rather an American invention!

The cocktail first appeared in The Savoy Cocktail Book, by Harry Craddock back in 1930, and it consisted of gin, vodka, and crème de cacao. At the time, vodka was an almost exclusively Russian export, hence the name.

Easy to make, the cocktail quickly became a popular. Over time, it evolved into the present day drink of vodka, coffee liqueur, and cream – or in our case, coconut!

Our Favorite Videos Get Recipe »

Made With Coconut Milk & Kahlúa

I didn’t want my vegan and dairy-free friends to miss out on this classic cocktail of vodka, coffee liqueur, and cream, so I’ve reinvented it with coconut milk.

Not only does the cocktail retain its decadence, but the coconut flavor melds so perfectly with the coffee liqueur, making this an even better cocktail altogether.

Tips for Making a Good White Russian

A few notes before we get to the cocktail itself:

Please, please, please don’t use cheap vodka for this . It’s the main ingredient and you can’t make a good cocktail with bad booze. I highly recommend Tito’s Vodka as its widely available, affordable, and smooth.

. It’s the main ingredient and you can’t make a good cocktail with bad booze. I highly recommend Tito’s Vodka as its widely available, affordable, and smooth. Play around with the coffee liqueur! Kahlúa is the go-to coffee liqueur for this cocktail, but Trader Vic’s Kona and St. George NOLA Coffee Liqueur are also phenomenal choices that offer a richer, bolder coffee flavor for the same price. (Both can be picked up online or at nearly any liquor store.)

Popular White Russian Variations

Lastly, a number of popular variations of the White Russian exist. Here are a few of my favorites:

Try swapping out coffee liqueur with crème de cacao or amaretto, or going half-and-half with either of them.

A small splash of cinnamon or ginger liqueur is also a nifty addition, especially around the holidays.

For a traditional White Russian, swap out the coconut cream for heavy cream.

Lastly, if you’re feeling a bit bawdy, trade the vodka for bourbon.

Want more great cocktails?