Easy
Sweet & Coffee
3 minutes
Rocks Glass
Ingredients
This easy-to-make cocktail combines vodka, coffee liqueur, cream, and cola, and is often described as a spirited coffee-flavored root beer float.
How to Make a Colorado Bulldog
Bar tools you’ll need
Jigger
Bar Spoon
Boston Shaker
Hawthorne Strainer
How to Mix
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Fill the smaller tin of your Boston shaker with ice cubes.
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Use a jigger (or measuring instrument) to measure and pour Absolut Vodka in the shaker tin.
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Use the jigger to measure and add Kahlúa, followed by whipping cream.
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Seal the shaker tins and shake until condensation forms on the outside of the shaker.
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Fill a rocks glass with ice cubes.
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Separate the tins and place a Hawthorne strainer over the top of the larger shaker tin.
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Strain the contents into the rocks glass.
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Gently top up with cola.
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Stir gently with a bar spoon.
All about the Colorado Bulldog
The Colorado Bulldog cocktail is a spirited twist on classic coffee drinks, often described as a carbonated highball version of a White Russian cocktail. Like the White Russian, it’s made with vodka, Kahlúa (coffee liqueur), and cream, but is then topped with cola is added to set it apart.
The Colorado Bulldog is velvety and indulgent, wrapping you in creamy decadence led by bold coffee liqueur. Cola brings both carbonation and a wonderful caramel sweetness, creating a harmonious, smooth sip balanced with gentle bubbles.
Like most cocktails, the history of the Colorado Bulldog is much debated.
Some stories say claim it was invented in 1978 in Colorado, USA while the most popular story suggests it was invented during the 1980s in Winnipeg, Canada. As the legend goes, the bartenders in Winnipeg ran out of ingredients to make a White Russian, which then lead them to improvise by using cola. The drink was named the Paralyzer.
As to why it’s called a Colorado Bulldog is anyone’s guess.
- Achieve the perfect carbonation
When you’re topping up your highball glass with cola, pour the cola from a height to achieve the best fizz. Then stir just once from the bottom up. - Use heavy whipping cream
We recommend using heavy cream for your Colorado Bulldog. Its higher fat content helps prevent the acidity of the cola from breaking down milk proteins, ensuring a smooth, creamy texture.
- White Russian
You really can’t talk about the Colorado Bulldog without mentioning the White Russian. Unlike the Colorado Bulldog, which is a shaken drink, the White Russian leaves out the cola and is built directly in the glass – no shaking. Check out the recipe for a White Russian.
- Use tequila instead of vodka
Substitute vodka for tequila and you’ve got what’s known as a Colorado Mother. - Even more decadence
As if this dessert cocktail was decadent enough, use half-and-half cream or coconut cream if you want extra richness. Shake until you hear a solid “snow globe” slosh for stable foam. - Add cold brew coffee
If you love the taste of coffee, double down by adding a dash of cold-brew coffee together with the coffee liqueur.
- We recommend serving the Colorado Bulldog in a rocks glass filled with ice cubes. If you want to add more cola to your drink, we recommend using a highball glass.
- Although our recipe for a Colorado Bulldog does not include a garnish, a single Maraschino cherry is a popular choice. There’s something special about the taste of cola and Maraschino cherry.
- Another garnish option is to add one or three roasted coffee beans to enhance the visual appearance and emphasize those coffee flavors.
- Sprinkle a touch of nutmeg for a welcome subtle spice.
- Add a chocolate curl to take the decadence to a whole new level.
Colorado Bulldog FAQ
A Colorado Bulldog consists of vodka, Kahlúa (coffee liqueur), whipping cream and cola.
No one quite knows why it is called Colorado Bulldog aside from the fact that one story ties the origins of the drink to the state of Colorado, USA.
The Colorado Bulldog cocktail adds cola to the classic combination of vodka, coffee liqueur, and cream, giving it a bubbly twist and a unique flavor that’s distinct from a White Russian.
Serve the Colorado Bulldog cocktail over ice in a rocks glass, shake the base ingredients well, and pour cola from a slight height for extra fizz.
The Colorado Bulldog cocktail combines creamy, rich, and coffee-forward flavors with a hint of sweetness and a sparkling cola finish for balance.
Call us biased, but we recommend using Absolut Vodka in your Colorado Bulldog because it gives a clean finish and lets the other flavors shine.
Yes, the Colorado Bulldog cocktail recipe is easy to follow and uses simple ingredients and bartending tools, making it perfect for home bartenders of any skill level.
