The Black Russian is a cocktail made with vodka and coffee liqueur. It is usually made with vodka such as Stolichnaya, also known as Stoli, and coffee liqueur such as Kahlúa. The drink is believed to have originated in 1949 at the Hotel Metropole in Brussels, Belgium, where it was created by bartender Gustave Tops for the American ambassador to Luxembourg, Perle Mesta. The drink is also associated with the city of Odessa, Ukraine, which is known for its strong coffee culture.