Spiced orange winter White Russian with coffee liqueur

When the weather turns cold, drinks tend to fall into two camps. You get the bright, festive ones packed with sparkle, or the rich, creamy ones made for fireside sipping. The Spiced Orange Winter White Russian manages to sit happily in the middle.

The White Russian itself has an interesting backstory. The drink was invented in Oakland, California, in 1955, when cream was added to the earlier Black Russian, which was built on vodka and coffee liqueur. Part of its staying power comes from the fact that it is easy to reinterpret.

Once you have that creamy coffee base, there is plenty of room to play. In colder months, orange and cinnamon make perfect sense because they echo flavours people already associate with winter baking and festive desserts. You get a hint of citrus, a little spice, and the soft richness of cream, all in one glass.

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Tip:Some people prefer to swap part of the cream for milk for a lighter finish, while others lean further into indulgence with a thicker cream layer on top. If you enjoy sweeter, dessert-style drinks, an Irish cream addition works well.

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