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, straight up in a classy martini glass. And of course blended into a boozy milkshake (you know you want to). Which is technically NOT a mudslide…

What is Kahlúa?
Kahlúa is a coffee-scented liqueur that hails from Mexico. Rich in color and bitter espresso flavor, 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 – 28 grams in a double shot. So perhaps best enjoyed as an occasional indulgence. For a lower calorie cocktail that also hails from Mexico, check out my article on how to make an authentic margarita.
#1. The Most Classic Kahlúa Drink: a White Russian
The most popular of all the Kahlúa drinks is the white Russian. Definitely a retro 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 night cap.

White Russian Cocktail Recipe
- 2 ounces or double shot of Kahlúa
- 1 ounces or single shot of vodka
- 1 ounce or single shot of heavy cream or dairy-free milk
Mixology Method. In a rocks glass filled with ice, pour in 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.
White Russian Variations. For a milder sip, splash more cream or top off with a couple splashes of your favorite milk.
Dairy-Free White Russian. If you eat a dairy-free diet, any plant-based milk will be just as delicious. For instance, pure coconut cream is especially indulgent, if you enjoy that particular flavor. Friendly reminder, however, Kahlúa is not vegan.
#2. Black Russian: The white Russian’s surly sibling
This Kahlúa drink is not for the faint-hearted. All booze, served on the rocks. The difference between a white Russian and a black Russian is the absence of any non-alcoholic mixer like heavy cream or milk.

Since this one is heavy on the vodka, I’d recommend a decent brand like Absolut or Ketel One. Whichever vodka you choose, sip it slow!
Black Russian Cocktail Recipe
- 2 parts vodka
- 1 part Kahlúa
Mixology Method. Nothing to see here, pour the ingredients in a rocks glass over ice, and garnish with a dark cherry. A little swish with a cocktail stirrer wouldn’t be out of line.
Martini-Style Black Russian Method
#1. Dip the rim of a martini glass in a bowl filled with a little Kahlúa, and coat with shaved chocolate. Or simply squeeze a little chocolate sauce or syrup around the inside of the top of the rim.
#2. In a cocktail shaker, combine vodka, Kahlúa and ice, and shake until it frosts over.
#3. Pour shaken ingredients into martini glass, and garnish with an espresso bean.
#3. The Mudslide: The most misunderstood of all the Kahlúa drinks
A true mudslide is a cocktail of coffee liqueur, vodka and Irish cream. The story goes the mudslide was created when a Caribbean-island bartender substituted Irish cream when out of the traditional heavy cream. One lucky customer.

Tale aside, an authentic mudslide is a shaken cocktail, served in a rocks glass over ice. 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, keep reading.
Authentic Mudslide Cocktail
- 1 ounce or single shot Kahlúa
- 1 ounce or single shot vodka
- 1½ ounces Irish Cream
- chocolate shavings or chocolate-covered espresso bean, optional
Mixology Method. Combine all three liquors in a cocktail shaker with ample ice. Shake until it frosts over, and pour into an ice-filled rocks glass. Garnish with chocolate shavings or chocolate espresso beans.

The Infamous Frozen “Mudslide” AKA Boozy Milkshake
Let’s call it what it is, the frozen mudslide is a boozy milkshake. And send thank you karma out into the world to whoever came up with it.

Words of caution. This frozen drink is a health crisis masquerading around in a cocktail glass. So much sugar. And so much saturated fat. Kick these back perhaps once a year, on a hot summer night when the mood is right. The rest of the time, enjoy a nice glass of red or a low-carb lemon drop. Which by the way, is NOT a martini.
How to make a frozen mudslide drink
Since the milkshake element of this version is the main event, the booze can be mixed up in a variety of satisfying amounts. For a true frozen mudslide, the only additional ingredient is vanilla ice cream.
- 1 ounce or single shot Kahlua
- 1 ounce or single shot vodka
- 1 ounce or single shot Irish Cream
- 3 scoops vanilla ice cream (a heaping cup)
- a little ice, crushed ideally
- chocolate sauce, shavings and/or chocolate-covered espresso beans
Mixology Method. Blend, baby, blend! Blend the first five ingredients until smooth. Pour into a hurricane glass (or other large beverage vessel) drizzled with chocolate sauce. Garnish with chocolate shavings 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.
Like 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! Your bar, you’re the boss.
Colorado Bulldog: the white Russian’s crazy cousin
One of the newcomers to the Kahlúa drinks club, this is the one all the kids are ordering. It’s a classic white Russian, topped off with a splash of cola. Often served in a shot glass, the following recipe calls for amounts that will serve up nice in an old-fashioned or rocks glass.

Words of caution. Classic soda like Coca-Cola and Pepsi are all kinds of bad for you. If you set out to enjoy a Colorado bulldog, reach for a craft cola without high fructose corn syrup and chemically-processed ingredients like caramel color. Diet sodas are no better for you, and best avoided at all costs.
Colorado Bulldog Cocktail
- 1 ounce or shot Kahlúa
- 1 ounce or shot vodka
- 1 ounce or shot heavy cream (half and half works, too)
- few splashes of cola, cane sugar-based recommended
Mixology Method. In a cocktail shaker with ice, shake Kahlúa, vodka and heavy cream until the shaker frosts over. Pour into a rocks glass filled with ice, and top off with cola.
Kahlúa drinks for low-carb and keto diets
Yes, this is a stretch. But the Edible Times Husband keeps to a keto diet 80% of the time, and indulges in sweet cocktails occasionally. To take the carb count down a bit in any Kahlúa drink, simply decrease the amount of sugar-loaded Kahlúa. Replace whatever is lost in Kahlúa with vodka or rum (or cream for a weaker, higher in fat cocktail).

Kahlúa is intense, even half a shot will give any cocktail a wonderful coffee kick. Because that’s the whole point of Kahlúa anyway, right? A bit of a coffee deliciousness when the moment demands something more sinister than your morning cuppa.
Cheers,
Christina

More Cocktails
- Three ways to enjoy a Lemon Drop cocktail + why it’s not a martini
- Three great bourbons, two mint juleps and the Kentucky Derby
- Three classic Kahlúa cocktails + the truth about mudslides
- The truth about setting absinthe on fire + how to properly enjoy this notorious green elixir
Dessert Ideas
- Alfajores + learning to ‘bring it’ one Argentinian cookie at a time
- An easy, addictive chocolate shortbread recipe for any occasion, any time of year
- Eat pound cake + fall in love with flambée
- Honey Blueberry Clafoutis + the genius of Julia Child

Three Classic Kahlúa Drinks
Description
All the classic Kahlúa drinks in one place! Shake and mix them up any way you like, or scroll up for even more ways to get this indulgent, coffee-scented liqueur in your glass.
Ingredients
White Russian Cocktail
- 2 ounces or double shot of Kahlúa
- 1 ounces or single shot of vodka
- 1 ounce or single shot of heavy cream or dairy-free milk
Black Russian Cocktail
- 2 parts/ounces/double shot vodka
- 1 part/ounces/single shot Kahlúa
- cherry, optional garnish
Classic Mudslide (Shaken)*
- 1 part/ounce/single shot Kahlua
- 1 part/ounce/single shot vodka
- 1½ parts/ounces Irish Cream liqueur
- optional garnishes, chocolate shavings or chocolate-covered espresso beans
Instructions
White Russian Mixology
- In a rocks glass filled halfway up with ice, pour in Kahlúa and your choice of vodka.
- Top with a single shot of heavy cream. Don’t stir for the classic look.
Black Russian Mixology
- Pour the ingredients in a rocks glass over ice, and garnish with a dark cherry.
- Stir briefly with a tea spoon or cocktail stirrer.
- Garnish with a dark or candied (maraschino) cherry.
Mudslide Mixology
- Fill an old-fashioned or rocks glass halfway with ice.
- Combine all three liquors in a cocktail shaker. Add ample ice, and shake until it frosts over.
- Pour into an ice-filled rocks glass.
- Garnish with chocolate shavings or chocolate-covered espresso bean.
Notes
Frozen Mudslide Drink
Blend the liquors and liqueurs for a classic mudslide with a little ice and about three scoops of ice cream.
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