Caramel Tequila White Russian Cocktail Recipe

If you like shaking up your usual cocktails, you might just fall for this Caramel Tequila White Russian. It’s a blend of smooth tequila, rich caramel, and creamy coffee liqueur—a sweet, bold drink that’s honestly pretty easy to whip up at home.

It’s a fun little riff on the classic White Russian, and honestly, it tends to get people talking at parties. I’ve played around with other flavors—peppermint, gingerbread, you name it—but this caramel tequila version? It’s got this cozy warmth and sweetness that just hits different.

If you’re looking for a way to jazz up your drink menu without a ton of effort, you’ll want to check this one out.

Caramel Tequila White Russian Cocktail Recipe

There’s something about the Caramel Tequila White Russian that just works. It’s sweet, creamy, and has that familiar cocktail vibe with a little twist.

It mixes caramel notes with smooth vodka, coffee liqueur, and a splash of cream. The result is a drink that feels a little decadent, but not over-the-top.

Equipment

• Cocktail shaker
• Bar spoon
• Measuring jigger
• Old fashioned glass or rocks glass
• Small plate for rimming glass
• Ice cubes
• Spoon for stirring
• Small pitcher (optional, for mixing cream)
• Paper towels (for easy cleanup)

Having decent tools really does make a difference. The shaker blends everything together, especially the caramel syrup, vodka, and liqueur.

A nice sturdy glass? It lets you actually see those pretty layers. Oh, and paper towels—trust me, caramel sauce gets everywhere if you’re not careful.

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz caramel vodka or regular vodka
• 1 oz coffee liqueur (like Kahlúa or Bailey’s Espresso)
• 1 oz tequila (blanco or reposado)
• 1 oz heavy cream, half & half, or oat milk
• 1 tbsp caramel sauce or caramel syrup
• Sea salt (for rimming, optional)
• Salted caramel sauce (optional for drizzling)
• Ice cubes

If you want that salted caramel vibe, add a pinch of sea salt to the rim or even straight into the drink. Flavored caramel vodka or just a bit more caramel syrup will sweeten things up even more.

Oat milk is actually a pretty solid sub if you’re skipping dairy.

Instructions

• Rim your glass with caramel sauce and a little sea salt, if you’re feeling fancy
• Fill the glass with ice cubes
• In a cocktail shaker, toss in caramel vodka, coffee liqueur, tequila, and caramel syrup
• Shake it up until everything’s chilled
• Strain over the ice in your glass
• Slowly float your cream, half & half, or oat milk over the top
• Give it a gentle stir, or just leave it layered—up to you
• Drizzle on extra salted caramel sauce if you want to go all out

I like to pour the cream over the back of a spoon. It helps keep those layers looking sharp, like a classic White Russian.

Notes

Caramel vodka’s my go-to for maximum flavor, but regular vodka totally works if you add enough caramel syrup. I tried it with oat milk once and was honestly surprised—it’s smooth, with this subtle oat finish.

A salted rim? It just makes the drink pop and keeps things from getting too sweet. Sometimes I’ll swap in Bailey’s as my coffee liqueur if I’m craving extra creaminess.

This cocktail is easy to double if you’ve got a crowd. I usually let friends drizzle their own caramel sauce—everyone has their own idea of “just right.” And yeah, keep some extra ice around for chilling glasses or topping things up.

Tasting Notes

When I take my first sip, the caramel is what jumps out at me. It’s sweet and smooth, rich but not overwhelming.

The caramel sort of melts into the other flavors, giving everything a buttery, almost velvety touch. Honestly, it makes the whole drink feel a little more special.

I still get that classic white Russian vibe in every sip. The creamy texture just softens everything and keeps it all balanced.

There’s plenty of coffee flavor, too. It brings in a hint of bitterness that plays off the sweetness from the caramel.

Sometimes, I swap in espresso instead of regular coffee liqueur. Espresso gives it this bolder, punchier coffee taste.

It almost feels like something you’d order at a fancy café—maybe even a dessert in a glass.

Here’s what I’m picking up with each sip:

• Creaminess from the dairy
• Sweetness from the caramel
• Warmth from the tequila
• Bitterness from the coffee or espresso

I think the Caramel Tequila White Russian is just really smooth and easy to drink. Honestly, it’s a bit more interesting than your typical white Russian.

That caramel twist? It turns the whole thing into a cozy dessert drink, perfect for winding down in the evening.