Red Russian recipe
Vodka, crème de cacao and cranberry juice in equal parts, shaken and strained into a cocktail glass.
By Kris Barton · Updated - 2 mins total
- 3 ingredients
- Cocktail glass
What Ingredients do you need to make a Red Russian?
Vodka
We compared 12 different brands of Vodka and determined that Smirnoff was the overall best option. Given the current climate with Russia, that may seem like a questionable choice, but Smirnoff isn’t made in Russia, it’s made all over the world.
It actually has a history of Russian persecution and the creators were forced to flee Russia.
Cranberry Juice
As you’d expect, Cranberry Juice is made out of Cranberries – but it also contains sugar and other fruit juices.
The Cranberry is a fruit native to North America and is recognised for its bright red colour, tart taste, and its sheer versatility.
Cranberries can be used to make a whole host of things:
- Cranberry Juice
- Cranberry Sauce
- Frozen Cranberries
- Various dietary supplements that contain Cranberry extract.
For Cranberry Juice, we recommend:
What Equipment do you need to make a Red Russian?
Cocktail Shaker
Cocktail shakers improve the taste of cocktails. It’s a fact.
There’s a reason that famed British spy James Bond says “shaken, not stirred”. And that reason is: because it tastes better.
If you don’t already have a cocktail shaker set, you might want to check out our detailed cocktail shaker comparison.
But to cut a long story short, here’s the cocktail shaker we recommend:
Cocktail Glass
This cocktail recipe tastes great, but let’s make it look great too.
Having the right glass for the right cocktail always makes the experience more enjoyable in my experience.
And the right glass is a cocktail glass.
We recommend:
Hawthorne Strainer
If you (or perhaps the person you’re buying for) don’t have a Hawthorne strainer as part of a cocktail shaker set, it’s a great, and incredibly useful, addition to your cocktail toolbox.
The strainer is typically used to remove the ice (or any other unwanted solid ingredients) from your cocktail as it’s poured from the cocktail shaker into your glass.
For a Hawthorne Strainer, we recommend:
Advertisement
Recipe card
Red Russian
- Prep
- 1 min
- Making
- 1 min
- Total
- 2 mins
- Serves
- 1
- Glass
- Cocktail glass
Ingredients
Makes 1 drink.
Method
- Add ice and the ingredients to your cocktail shaker.
- Shake well.
- Strain into a cocktail glass using a Hawthorne strainer.
Want more like this? Browse our full collection of modern cocktails.
Red Russian FAQs
What Ingredients do you need to make a Red Russian?
To make a Red Russian, you need 30ml / 1oz vodka, 30ml / 1oz crème de cacao and 30ml / 1oz cranberry juice. There’s more about vodka and cranberry juice above.
What Equipment do you need to make a Red Russian?
You’ll need a cocktail shaker, a cocktail glass and a Hawthorne strainer.
What alcohol is in a Red Russian?
A Red Russian contains 30ml / 1oz vodka and 30ml / 1oz crème de cacao.
Is a Red Russian shaken or stirred?
A Red Russian is shaken. Shake it with ice in a cocktail shaker, then strain it into a cocktail glass.
Can I make a Red Russian without a cocktail shaker?
A cocktail shaker is best, but a clean jam jar with a tight lid works too. Add ice and the ingredients, screw the lid on and shake hard for 10 to 15 seconds, then strain it into your glass through a small sieve.
What glass is a Red Russian served in?
Serve a Red Russian in a cocktail glass.
How do I make a Red Russian for a group?
The recipe makes one drink. Multiply every measure by the number of drinks you want: for 4, you’d need 120ml vodka, 120ml crème de cacao and 120ml cranberry juice. Shake one or two drinks at a time, so there’s room in the shaker for the ice.
