I first encountered a Colorado Bulldog at a friend’s party at Slick Willey’s, where the bartender served what looked like White Russians. When I commented on his choice of classic cocktail, he winked and said, “Just wait for the surprise.” That surprise – a splash of coke that transformed the drink into something fizzy and unexpectedly delightful – had everyone asking for the recipe by the end of the night.
The Colorado Bulldog is a wonderfully flavored creamy cocktail based on a classic White Russian – with a little something extra. If you like Kahlua, you will enjoy this unique twist! This copycat recipe perfectly recreates the dessert cocktail served at Slick Willie’s Family Pool Hall, combining the creamy richness of a White Russian with the fizzy sweetness of cola for a drink that’s greater than the sum of its parts.
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Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Works
The Colorado Bulldog works because it builds on a proven classic. The neutral vodka creates a clean base, while the coffee notes from Kahlua provide rich depth. The milk adds creamy sweetness, and the unexpected addition of cola introduces carbonation that lightens the drink’s texture while adding a familiar sweet flavor. This combination creates a perfectly balanced cocktail that’s decadent without being overwhelming – like enjoying a creamy coffee soda with a kick!
Ingredients
- Coca-Cola – Introduces carbonation and a complementary sweetness
- Kahlua Coffee Liqueur – Provides rich coffee flavor and sweetness
- Regular Vodka – Creates a neutral base that carries the other flavors
- Milk – Adds creamy texture and mellows the alcohol
How to Make a Colorado Bulldog
- Pour Kahlua and Vodka over ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake well.
- Add milk and cola.
- Stir, then pour it into an old-fashioned glass and serve.
You can also enjoy your Colorado Bulldog dessert cocktail in a highball glass if you’d prefer.
Add a pop of color with a maraschino cherry garnish.
Colorado Bulldog Cocktail – Creamy White Russian with a Twist
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Kahlua
- 2 ounces Vodka
- 6 ounces Milk half and half is preferred.
- 1 ounce Coca-Cola
Instructions
- Pour Kahlua and Vodka over ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake well.
- Add milk and cola. Stir and pour into a glass.
Nutrition
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Definitely my all time favorite drink. I get these in Cloudcroft and making them at home is cheaper and I can make them stronger. Highly recommend using half and half and not milk tho!
OMGosh!!! My ALLTIME favorite drink! Being form central/south Texas I use Tequila as alcohol of choice! DELISH!!!
I make these at home all the time…..except we call them Smith and Wesson……if you don’t use the vodka with it, then it’s a Smith and Kerns. They are so delicious. They even taste good with Coke Zero (after drinking them for years with real coke I was very afraid!) 🙂
oops……we don’t use milk…….it has to be 1/2 & 1/2……. 🙂
White Russian:
2 oz. Vodka
2 oz. Kahlua
2 oz. Baileys Irish Cream
Half and Half
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh so good!
My sister got me hooked on these. The first time I went to the liquor store to pick up the 3 liquors, (and I bought a cheaper Vodka) I almost croaked! $38 for the 3 liquors! And I bought them in Wisconsin, the liquor capital of the USA! If anyone goes to Mexico, pick up Kahlua there… it’s a lot cheaper!
I think that is a mudslide, and those are fantastic too!
Delicious! I put a few drops of Hershey’s syrup as well. I did not turn it into chocolate milk, we’re talking literally a few drops. Fantastic~! Thank you for this recipe!
I am glad you enjoyed it!
As a former bartender, using milk instead of half & half is totally UNACCEPTABLE! When a bar uses milk, they are only trying to save money. Sad.
I have tried these before in bars, but I had no idea what was in them. Thank you for the recipe.
Think I would prefer half & half as well for the Colorado Bulldog ????
i prefer crown royal instead of vodka in colorado bulldogs it’s stronger and just as smooth
Crown Royal is 40% ABV, the same as vodka, so no difference in strength.
Nice… I think a Colorado bull dog is best when it’s not stirred or shaken too much. Let the different flavors drift around while you drink and get stronger as you get to the bottom of the glass.
using 1/2 and 1/2 is even better than just plain milk