Almond White Russian

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Cocktail History

The White Russian is a classic cocktail that was created in the mid-1900s but rose to prominence after being featured in the 1998 movie The Big Lebowski. The original recipe traditionally calls for a simple mixture of vodka, coffee liqueur, and heavy cream, but this modern variation created by Toby Cecchini and published in The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks is more complex. It swaps out the base spirit for a Jamaican rum, adds a unique amaro, and floats a whipped nutty cream mixture on top.

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Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Heavy Cream: This is a thick, high-fat milk product. I used Prairie Farms Dairy Heavy Whipping Cream.

Dark Rum: This is a type of rum made with sugarcane, spices, and water that has been barrel aged for a long period of time. I used Flor De Caña 4 Year Añego Oro Rum.

Coffee Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with coffee, spices, sugar, and alcohol. I used Trader Vic’s Kona Coffee Liqueur.

Amaro Abano: This is a digestif made in Italy with bitter orange peels, herbs, spices, and alcohol.

Amaretto Liqueur: This is a liqueur made in Italy with almonds, spices, and alcohol. I used Di Amore Amaretto Liqueur.

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Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.

Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. I used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.

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Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Dark brown color layered with a light cream

• Aroma: Warm and nutty almond notes complemented by hints of coffee and cream

• Taste: Bold coffee flavor balanced by the mellow sweetness of almond and cream and warm rum spices

• Finish: Mildly sweet with lingering almond, herbs, and coffee richness

Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kendall’s Take: "I like the classic White Russian a lot, but I have to give this souped-up version four stars. Its unique complexity thanks to the choice of rum over vodka as well as the addition of amaro and nutty notes set it apart as a top contender for the tastiest riffs on this template I've ever had."

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Recipe

This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks by the editors of PUNCH and Megan Krigbaum.