Peppermint White Russian
A holiday spin on the classic White Russian that adds peppermint schnapps to the vodka and coffee liqueur base for a minty, creamy winter cocktail.
- 1½ ozvodka
- ¾ ozcoffee liqueur
- ½ ozpeppermint schnapps
- 1 ozheavy cream
- Candy cane rim or a sprig of mint.garnish
- 1Optional: moisten the rim of a rocks glass and dip it in finely crushed candy cane for a festive presentation.
- 2Fill the rocks glass with ice cubes.
- 3Add the vodka, coffee liqueur, and peppermint schnapps. Stir once to combine.
- 4Slowly pour the heavy cream over the back of a bar spoon so it floats on top.
- 5Serve without stirring so guests can watch the cream cascade through the drink as they sip.
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The White Russian cocktail became an American cultural touchstone following its prominent appearance in the 1998 Coen Brothers film The Big Lebowski. The original drink — vodka, coffee liqueur, and cream — gained fresh popularity in the 2000s and spawned numerous seasonal variations. Bartenders began adding peppermint schnapps to the standard White Russian formula during the holiday season, creating a minty twist that plays on the classic pairing of chocolate and peppermint. The Peppermint White Russian gained significant traction on food and cocktail blogs beginning in the mid-2010s; a well-documented recipe on The Speckled Palate, originally published in 2021 and updated in October 2025, is among the most shared versions. A candy cane rimmed glass has become the visual signature of the variation.
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