If you love the bitter, rich and nuanced flavor of coffee, a Kahlúa cocktail may be just the nightcap for you. Versatile and smooth, Kahlúa drinks can be delicious on the rocks, or straight up in a classy martini glass. And of course, blended into a boozy milkshake and topped with whipped cream (you know you want to). Which is technically not a mudslide...
The Story
Kahlúa is a coffee-scented liqueur that hails from Mexico. Rich in color and bitter from espresso, this elixir is a popular ingredient for cocktails, milkshakes, and desserts alike. Crafted from 100% arabica coffee (the good stuff) with rum as the accelerant, the liqueur contains a small amount of caffeine. But nowhere near the amount in even a quarter cup of brewed coffee.
The makers claim Kahlúa is allergen free, and safe for a gluten-free diet. It is absolutely loaded with sugar, a whole 28 grams in a double shot. So perhaps best enjoyed as an occasional indulgence with a little milk. For a lower-calorie cocktail that also hails from Mexico, check out my article on how to make an authentic margarita.
The White Russian
The most popular of all the Kahlúa cocktails is the White Russian. Definitely a retro coffee cocktail, this one is as simple to make as pouring a glass of milk. And a no-fuss way to sip a silky, sweet, coffee-laced nightcap.
The Recipe
- 2 ounces or double shot of Kahlúa
- 1 ounce or a shot of vodka
- 1 ounce or a shot of heavy cream
- Fill a rocks or old-fashioned glass halfway with ice.
- Pour in the Kahlúa and your choice of vodka (Absolut is traditional).
- Top with a single shot of heavy cream. This will give you the signature look of this classic Kahlúa drink, with the dark liqueur resting beneath a pillowy cloud of cream on top.
Dairy-Free White Russian. If you eat a dairy-free diet, any plant-based milk will be just as delicious. Pure coconut cream is especially indulgent and lightly sweetened almond milk pairs well. Friendly reminder, however, that Kahlúa is not vegan.
The Black Russian
This cocktail is a White Russian's surly sibling. And is not for the faint-hearted. Or anyone concerned about the integrity of their liver function.
A Black Russian is all booze, served on the rocks. And is more or less an espresso martini. The main difference between a white and a black Russian cocktail is the absence of any milk or cream. Since this one is heavy on vodka, I recommend a decent brand like Absolut or Ketel One. Whichever vodka you choose, sip it slowly!
Classic
- 2 ounces or a double shot of vodka
- 1 ounce or a shot of Kahlúa
- Fill a rocks glass with ice, or a large, cocktail ice cube.
- Pour in the vodka and Kahlúa. A little swish with a cocktail stirrer wouldn't be out of line
- Garnish with a dark cherry (or any cherry you have on hand).
Martini-Style
For a fun, festive Black Russian served straight up, grate chocolate shavings from a bar of chocolate to rim the glasses.
- 2 ounces or a double shot of vodka
- 1 ounce or a shot of Kahlúa
- grated chocolate, for garnish
- chocolate sauce or syrup, optional
- Run a vegetable peeler along the thin edge of a bar of good chocolate to create shavings. Or slice thin shavings with a knife. Place the grated chocolate on a shallow plate.
- Dip the rim of your martini glass in a bowl filled with a little Kahlúa or moisten the rim with a damp towel. Then dip it in the chocolate shavings to coat the rim. Another fun garnish is to squeeze a little chocolate sauce or syrup around the inside of the glass. For the best visual effect, keep as close to the top of the rim as possible.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the vodka, Kahlúa, and a handful of ice. Then shake until it frosts over.
- Strain the shaken ingredients into the martini glass, and garnish with an espresso bean or a sprinkling of grated chocolate.
The Mudslide
A true mudslide is a cocktail of coffee liqueur, vodka, and Irish Cream liqueur. Legend has it a bartender in the Caribbean created the mudslide when he or she substituted Irish Cream for the heavy cream in a classic White Russian. One lucky customer.
Tropical tale aside, an authentic mudslide is a shaken cocktail, served on the rocks. If you're feeling fancy, garnish your mudslide with a few chocolate shavings. If you're looking for a frozen mudslide AKA a boozy coffee milkshake, you're getting close.
Mudslide Recipe
- 1 ounce or a single shot of Kahlúa
- 1 ounce or a single shot of vodka
- 1½ ounces or 2½ tablespoons of Irish Cream
- chocolate shavings or chocolate-covered espresso bean, optional
- Combine all three liquors in a cocktail shaker with ample ice.
- Shake until it frosts over, and strain the drink into an ice-filled rocks glass.
- Garnish with chocolate shavings or chocolate espresso beans.
Frozen Mudslide
Let's call a frozen mudslide what it really is. A boozy, lightly chocolate, coffee-scented milkshake. And let's send thank you karma out into the world to whoever came up with it.
Word of caution, this frozen drink is a health crisis masquerading in a hurricane glass. So much sugar. And so much saturated fat. Kick one back once a year on a hot summer night when the mood is right. The rest of the time, enjoy a classic White Russian or an authentic margarita and go easy on the sugar.
Frozen Mudslide Recipe
Since the milkshake element of this version is the main event, the booze can be mixed up in a variety of satisfying amounts. In truth, the only additional ingredient should be vanilla ice cream.
- 1 ounce or a shot of Kahlúa
- 1 ounce or a shot of vodka
- 1 ounce or a shot of Irish Cream
- 3 scoops of vanilla ice cream (about a heaping cup)
- a little ice, crushed if you have it
- chocolate sauce, shavings, and/or chocolate-covered espresso beans
- Drizzle chocolate syrup or homemade sauce around the inside of your hurricane or large glass.
- Blend the first five ingredients until smooth.
- Pour into the prepared glass. Garnish with chocolate shavings, whipped cream, or perhaps a chocolate-covered espresso bean, or three.
Like a thinner shake? If you want more volume or like a thinner drink, add a few tablespoons of milk before blending.
Want it a bit more Irish? Up the Irish cream and lessen the vodka. You can certainly lessen the Kahlúa, but that would remove the sought-after coffee punch.
Don't like vodka? Leave it out! You're the bartender, you're the boss.
Colorado Bulldog
One of the newcomers to the Kahlúa drinks club, it's the one all the kids are ordering. A Colorado Bulldog is a classic White Russian topped off with a splash of cola. While often served in a shot glass, the following recipe calls for amounts that will fit nicely in a rocks glass.
Colorado Bulldog Recipe
- 1 ounce or a shot of Kahlúa
- 1 ounce or a shot of vodka
- 1 ounce or a shot of heavy cream (half and half works, too)
- few splashes of cola
- Fill a cocktail shaker with a couple of handfuls of ice. Then fill your glass halfway with ice.
- Add the Kahlúa, vodka, and heavy cream, place on the lid and shake until it frosts over.
- Strain the drink into a rocks glass filled with ice, and fill the glass the rest of the way with cola.
One last disclaimer, classic sodas like Coca-Cola and Pepsi can prove all kinds of bad for your health. If you set out to enjoy a Colorado bulldog, reach for a craft cola that's lower in sugar. And if you can, one without high fructose corn syrup and chemically-processed ingredients like caramel color. Diet sodas are probably not much better for you, but certain artificial sweeteners like stevia haven't been proven harmful yet.
Low-Carb Variations
Yes, this is a stretch. But the Edible Times Husband keeps to a ketogenic diet 80% of the time. And indulges in sweet cocktails occasionally.
To lower the carb count in any Kahlúa drink, simply decrease the amount of sugar-loaded Kahlúa. Yes, counterintuitive, but there you have it. Replace whatever is lost in Kahlúa with vodka. Or heavy cream for a weaker, higher-in-fat cocktail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely. Your glass, your rules. Kahlúa is a sweet, syrupy, coffee-flavored liqueur that can be enjoyed straight up, on ice. If you plan to sip your Kahlúa unadulterated, chilling the bottle first will cut down on the burn.
Kahlúa and milk is a classic and popular drink, so it seems many partakers would claim it's a winning match! The most traditional mixer for Kahlúa is heavy cream, but whole milk is a great substitution. A cocktail of Kahlúa and milk will offer a sweet, full-bodied sip with subtle, bitter notes of coffee.
While Kahlúa is created by combining rum and arabica coffee beans, Bailey's Irish Cream recipe is whiskey-based. The ingredients for Bailey's include Irish whiskey, heavy cream, and cocoa. Both liqueurs offer a similar alcohol content, with Bailey's at 17% and Kahlúa at 20% alcohol-by-volume. Kahlúa is a dairy-free product but is not vegan.
And while Bailey's is made from Irish whiskey distilled from gluten-containing grains, the final product is classified as gluten-free. Celiac patients on a strict gluten-free diet will need to use their best judgment and consult their doctor or nutritionist.
Sommelier Summation
Kahlúa is sweet and delicious, but intense. Even half a shot will give any cocktail a wonderful kick. And that's the whole point of Kahlúa anyway, right? A bit of bright-eye deliciousness when the moment demands something more sinister than your morning cuppa.
📖 Recipe
Classic Kahlúa Cocktails
All the sweet, coffee-scented classic Kahlúa cocktails in one place! The ingredient measurements are for one drink, use the buttons to double or triple the recipe to serve a crowd.
- Total Time: 7 minutes
- Yield: 1 Kahlúa Cocktail 1x
Ingredients
White Russian
- 2 ounces or double shot of Kahlúa
- 1 ounce or a shot of vodka, Absolut is traditional
- 1 ounce or a shot of heavy cream (or dairy-free milk)
Black Russian
- 2 ounces or a double shot of vodka
- 1 ounce or a shot of of Kahlúa
- a candied or dark cherry for garnish, optional
Classic Mudslide
- 1 ounce or a shot Kahlúa
- 1 ounce or a shot vodka
- 1½ ounces of Bailey's Irish Cream
- chocolate shavings or chocolate-covered espresso beans, optional garnishes
Frozen Mudslide
- 1 ounce or a shot of Kahlúa
- 1 ounce or a shot of vodka
- 1 ounce or a shot of Irish Cream
- 3 scoops of vanilla ice cream (about a heaping cup)
- a little ice, crushed if you have it
- chocolate sauce, shavings, and/or chocolate-covered espresso beans
Colorado Bulldog
- 1 ounce or a shot of Kahlúa
- 1 ounce or a shot of vodka
- 1 ounce or a shot of heavy cream (half and half works, too)
- few splashes of cola
Instructions
White Russian
- Fill a rocks or old-fashioned glass halfway with ice.
- Pour in the Kahlúa and your choice of vodka.
- Top with a single shot of heavy cream. This will give you the signature look of this classic Kahlúa drink, with the dark liqueur resting beneath a pillowy cloud of cream on top.
Black Russian
- Fill a rocks glass with ice, or a large, cocktail ice cube.
- Pour in the vodka and Kahlúa. A little swish with a cocktail stirrer wouldn't be out of line
- Garnish with a dark cherry (or any cherry you have on hand).
Mudslide
- Combine all the vodka and liqueurs in a cocktail shaker with ample ice.
- Shake until it frosts over, and strain the drink into an ice-filled rocks glass.
- Garnish with chocolate shavings or chocolate espresso beans.
Frozen Mudslide
- Drizzle chocolate syrup or homemade chocolate sauce around the inside of your hurricane glass or large drinking glass.
- Blend the first five ingredients until smooth.
- Pour into the prepared glass. Garnish with chocolate shavings, whipped cream, or perhaps a chocolate-covered espresso bean, or three.
Colorado Bulldog
- Fill a cocktail shaker with a couple of handfuls of ice.
- Add ice to your glass, filling it about halfway.
- Add the Kahlúa, vodka, and heavy cream, place on the lid and shake until it frosts over.
- Strain the drink into a rocks glass filled with ice, and top off the remaining room left in the glass with cola.
Notes
For Dairy-Free
If you eat a dairy-free diet, any plant-based milk will be just as delicious. Pure coconut cream is especially indulgent, and lightly sweetened almond milk also pairs well. Friendly reminder, however, that Kahlúa is not vegan. Irish Cream does, as in the name, contain dairy.
On Nutrition Information
The Nutrition Information below is for the frozen mudslide cocktail recipe above as written... So you can feel a lot better about enjoying one of the others!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 minutes
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Mixology
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Cocktail
- Calories: 1883
- Sugar: 152 g
- Sodium: 423.3 mg
- Fat: 109 g
- Carbohydrates: 165.9 g
- Protein: 23.4 g
- Cholesterol: 608.6 mg
Keywords: Kahlúa cocktails, Kahlúa and milk, mudslide cocktail, white Russian cocktail, Black Russian,
HeatherDawn
Thanks for this! True story: the white russian cocktail did the job after a bad back spasm that would usually require muscle relaxants to do the job. Will keep the mudslide in back pocket for next time!
Christina
Love it! Two birds, one proverbial stone. Will surely keep that one in my back pocket.;)
Ryan
These were a hit at my Big Lebowski party!
Christina
The Dude, abides!😆