The Black Russian cocktail is a simple yet bold drink made from vodka and coffee liqueur. Its origins are somewhat mysterious, but it rose to popularity in the mid-20th century and became a staple at bars across the United States and beyond. Origins of the Black Russian The exact origins of the Black Russian are unknown, but several stories exist about its creation. One account credits Belgian bar owner Gustave Tops for inventing the cocktail in 1949 at the Hotel Metropole in Brussels. As the story goes, Tops wanted to create a signature drink for the hotel’s American guests who were flocking to Europe post-World War II. He mixed vodka with the house coffee liqueur, creating a robust drink reminiscent of the Russian culture. The cocktail was an immediate hit. Another origin story pins the invention to bartender Gustave Tops at the Hotel Metropole in the 1950s. Supposedly, he first made the cocktail for Perle Mesta, an American socialite and ambassador to Luxembourg. Inspired by the dark color, Mesta referred to the drink as a “Black Russian” and the name stuck. However, there is no proof to definitively trace the Black Russian to Tops or the Hotel Metropole. References to […]

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