The Black Russian is a cocktail created in Brussels in 1949 for U.S. ambassador Perle Mesta, combining vodka with coffee liqueur.
Belgian bartender Gustave Tops is credited with creating the drink at the Hotel Metropole in Brussels. Its name refers to the use of vodka, associated with Russia, and the drink’s dark color from coffee liqueur.
The Black Russian is generally served over ice and is known for its short, two-ingredient construction. Unlike many cocktails, it does not traditionally contain cream or milk.
The White Russian developed later by adding cream to the Black Russian. That distinction is a common source of confusion: the Black Russian is dark and spirit-forward, while the White Russian has a pale, creamy appearance.