If you love White Russian cocktails, but are looking for an alcohol-free alternative, this Virgin White Russian will surprise you! This recipe was discovered while experimenting with a non-alcoholic aperitif, Woodnose Sacré. See the full recipe below.
Virgin White Russian
Ingredients
- 1 oz Woodnose Sacré (contains caffeine)*
- .5 oz simple syrup (1:1 sugar & water)
- splash heavy cream
- ground cinnamon (for garnish)
Instructions
- Fill a small glass with ice.*
- Add Sacré and simple syrup and stir.
- Add a splash of heavy cream.
- Sprinkle ground cinnamon on top for garnish.
Notes
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Read full disclaimer.What is a White Russian cocktail?
A White Russian is a cocktail made with vodka, coffee liqueur, and cream or milk. It was first mixed in the 1960s at a bar in Brussels, Belgium but it wasn’t until 1998 when The Dude drank one (or several) of them in “The Big Lebowski” that this drink came to be widely known.
How to Make a Virgin White Russian
Woodnose Sacré contains some coffee and quite a bit of tartness. It carries similar flavor characteristics as Kahlua, or coffee liqueur, making it a great option for a non-alcoholic White Russian cocktail.
The non-alcoholic version of a classic White Russian is easy to make – you don’t even need a cocktail shaker!
To begin, find a small rocks glass, like a gibraltar glass or a mini mason jar (like the one in the photo). Next, gather all of your ingredients. Fill your glass with ice.
To make a Virgin White Russian cocktail, you have two options:
1 – Layer the ingredients one by one in this order: Sacré, simple syrup, heavy cream, garnish. Sometimes there is beauty in tasting the ingredients slightly differently in each sip.
or
2 – Pour Sacré and simple syrup and stir with a bar spoon to combine. Then, add the heavy cream and garnish. This will ensure that each sip is equally sweet.
Non-Alcoholic White Russian Garnish
Served in transparent glasses, these mocktails can be striking on their own, as the cream seeps into the darker layer below. I like to add a sprinkle of cinnamon powder on top, but you could also use cocoa powder, chocolate shavings, or even sit a cinnamon stick across the top of the glass.
Alternative Ingredients
If you want to skip the dairy, there are alternatives to heavy cream. One is coconut milk. To get the right consistency, I recommend using Native Forest Simple Coconut Milk. When you open the can, there will be a layer of coconut cream on top. Scrape that off and put it in a small bowl. Whisk this until it forms a smooth consistency. Add coconut milk to reach your desired thickness and it will be ready to use in your Virgin White Russian!
Looking for an alternative sweetener to a syrup made from white sugar? You can make honey syrup, use maple syrup, or even a couple of drops of vanilla extract. Stevia is also an option but can taste very sweet, so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for this drink.
Each of these sweeteners has a different perceived level of sweetness, so adjust the ratios accordingly.
The Benefits of Drinking Virgin Cocktails
Well, besides the obvious benefit of not having a hangover the next day, there are plenty more reasons to drink alcohol-free cocktails. After all, some people simply can’t or don’t want to drink alcohol for whatever reason (health conditions and pregnancy come to mind). In addition, drinking alcohol-free cocktails has been shown to reduce the intake of calories without sacrificing taste.
More Drinks with Woodnose Sacré
If you have enjoyed this non-alcoholic Virgin White Russian recipe then check out the other great drinks in the full review of Woodnose Sacré. Aside from performing well as a Kahlua substitute, it is a great amaro substitute, or aperitif, on its own. It has a distinctive taste and is a unique product in a sea of non-alcoholic spirits.
