Red Russian (cocktail)

The Red Russian is an alcoholic cocktail made with vodka and cherry liqueur. It is similar to the Black Russian, which substitutes coffee liqueur for cherry liqueur.

Composition

The typical Red Russian consists of vodka (usually unflavored) and a cherry liqueur, such as Cherry Heering. The ratio of vodka to cherry liqueur varies depending on preferences, but a common starting point is 2:1 or 3:1.

Preparation

The drink is typically prepared by pouring the vodka and cherry liqueur over ice in an old fashioned or rocks glass. The mixture is then stirred gently. Garnishes are optional but may include a maraschino cherry or a citrus peel.

Variations

• Black Russian: As mentioned previously, substitutes coffee liqueur (typically Kahlúa) for cherry liqueur.
• White Russian: A Black Russian with cream added. A variation of the Red Russian with cream is theoretically possible, but uncommon.
• Other variations might exist using different fruit liqueurs or flavored vodkas.