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WhatDrink

Cocktails

Irish Russian

Irish Russian is a cocktail made with Vodka, Kahlua, Coca-Cola, and Guinness Stout. The listed recipe is built and served in a Highball Glass.

Reviewed by How we calculate nutritionSuggest a correction
Cocktailalcoholic17% ABV4 ingredients

At a Glance

283 kcalCalories
17%ABV
13.9gSugar
21.3gCarbs
1.51Std Drinks

Estimated from parsed ingredients and typical ingredient nutrition. Some ingredient data may be approximate.

These nutrition figures are approximate estimates for this recipe — actual values vary with your exact measures, brands and serving size.

On this page

How hard is it to make?

Easy

Why: 4 ingredients

Estimated from the ingredient count and technique.

Ingredients

  • 1 shotVodkaBase Spirit
  • 1 shotKahluaLiqueur Modifier
  • 1 dashCoca-ColaMixer
  • Fill withGuinness stoutOther

How to Make It

  1. Add the ingredients in the order listed in the recipe.Add
  2. Care must be taken when adding the Guinness to prevent an excess of foam.Add
  3. Do Not add ice.Add

How to Serve

Glass
Highball Glass
Temperature
Chilled
Ice
Ice
Served Chilled

Serving tips

Serving tips

Serve Irish Russian cold and use coffee with enough strength to stand up to the other ingredients. Weak coffee can make the drink taste flat.

Taste

What does Irish Russian taste like?

Irish Russian leans into coffee depth, gentle bitterness and a richer after-dinner feel. The best versions keep sweetness in check so the coffee note stays clear.

Primary flavours

RoastedCoffeeCola

Supporting notes

SparklingSweetVanillaChocolateBitter

Flavor tags are derived from ingredient-level flavor mappings.

Estimated sensory profile

StrengthLight – Strong
BodyLight – Full
SweetnessDry – Sweet
BoldnessDelicate – Bold

What do these dimensions mean?

Practical notes

When to choose it

How to decide if Irish Russian is right for you

Irish Russian is best for drinkers who want coffee depth, a richer finish and a drink that feels closer to after-dinner than aperitif. Choose it when roast and texture matter more than sharp refreshment. The listed serve is about 17.0% ABV, so strength is part of the decision.

Skip if

Skip Irish Russian if...

Skip Irish Russian if you want something light, crisp or food-friendly before dinner. Coffee-led cocktails usually feel richer and work better when you want depth, bitterness and a fuller finish.

When to serve

  • DessertSuggested from its coffee and vanilla notes.
  • After DinnerSuggested from its coffee notes.

Occasion tags are inferred from drink style, serving format, flavour profile, food-pairing theme, recipe metadata, and strict multi-signal supplemental rule matches.

Food pairings

DessertsChocolateCoffee Desserts

Food pairings are derived from the drink flavour signature, mapped to one dominant pairing theme, then limited to coherent public suggestions.

Diet & lifestyle

Compatible, based on the listed ingredients

Vegetarian

May be limited

Vegan

Not compatible

Gluten-FreeKetoLow-CarbLow-Sugar
Find vegan-compatible cocktailsFind gluten-free-compatible cocktails

Diet tags are ingredient-level and nutrition-estimate based. Product brands, preparation methods, quantities, and substitutions may change compatibility.

Alternatives to try

Choose an ingredient to see reviewed substitutions, or filter for a different preference.

Reviewed ingredient substitutions

Vodka1 shot

GinWorks, but changes the drink
How much to use
Use the same volume; expect more juniper and herbal aroma.
What changes
Gin can replace vodka when a more botanical result is acceptable.
Vegetarian-compatible

Kahlua1 shot

Coffee LiqueurWorks, with a noticeable change
How much to use
Use the same amount and adjust sweetness if needed.
What changes
Coffee liqueur can usually replace Kahlua, though sweetness and coffee intensity may vary.
Vegetarian-compatible

Coca-Cola1 dash

ColaGood swap
How much to use
Use the same amount.
What changes
Cola is usually a close substitute for Coca-Cola in mixed drinks.
Vegetarian-compatible

Reviewed component substitutions are not guarantees that the replacement was tested in this exact recipe. Follow the reviewed adjustment note and taste before serving.

Preference filters use current ingredient, nutrition and diet evidence. They are not medical advice, and this database contract does not store user selections.

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Last updated

Ingredients, measures and method are taken from the source recipe; roles and serving details are mapped from reviewed evidence.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make an Irish Russian at home?
Yes. The Irish Russian uses 4 ingredients, making it straightforward to prepare at home. You will need a Highball Glass. Use quality spirits and fresh ingredients for the best result.