Cutwater White Russian is a pre-made canned cocktail produced by the Cutwater Spirits company. It contains a classic White Russian cocktail made with vodka, coffee liqueur, and cream. The key question many people have is whether Cutwater White Russian contains dairy as part of the cream component. In this comprehensive article, we’ll examine the ingredients list, look at how Cutwater makes their White Russian, and determine conclusively whether there is dairy in Cutwater White Russian.
Examining the Ingredients
The best way to determine if a product contains dairy is to look at the ingredients list. Here are the ingredients in Cutwater White Russian:
| Carbonated water |
| Alcohol |
| Natural flavors |
| Cane sugar |
| Caramel color |
| Citric acid |
At first glance, the ingredients list does not appear to contain any obvious dairy products like milk, cream, or whey. However, the “natural flavors” component leaves some ambiguity. Natural flavors are typically proprietary blends of flavor compounds derived from natural sources. These could potentially include dairy-derived natural flavors.
So while the ingredients list lacks an explicit dairy ingredient, it remains uncertain whether the natural flavors contain dairy. To get more clarity, we need to examine how Cutwater produces their White Russian.
How Cutwater Makes Their White Russian
According to Cutwater, they start with a 5-times distilled vodka that is gluten free. To this, they add their cold brew coffee liqueur which is made from 100% Arabica coffee beans. Finally, they say they use a “velvety vanilla cream” to complete the White Russian cocktail profile.
The key question is – what exactly is this velvety vanilla cream? Traditional White Russians are made with heavy cream or half and half. However, Cutwater states their products are gluten free and made without any dairy, soy, nuts, or eggs.
This means the “velvety vanilla cream” they use is likely a non-dairy creamer substitute such as coconut cream or oat cream. These cream substitutes provide a similar creamy texture and mouthfeel to heavy cream without using actual dairy.
So while Cutwater doesn’t disclose their exact formula, their production process indicates the velvety vanilla cream is almost certainly a non-dairy ingredient.
Confirming Cutwater White Russian is Dairy-Free
To confirm this analysis, we can look at Cutwater’s FAQ on their website. In response to the question “Does Cutwater contain dairy, gluten, nuts, etc?” they state:
“Cutwater was created to be enjoyed by everyone. All of our products are made without dairy, lactose, soy, nuts, eggs or gluten.”
Additionally, Cutwater labels their White Russian product as “dairy-free” and suitable for a “vegan diet”.
So directly from the producer, we have definitive confirmation that Cutwater White Russian does not contain any dairy ingredients. They specifically use a non-dairy creamer substitute to produce the velvety vanilla cream component of the cocktail.
Why Use Non-Dairy Creamer?
This raises the question – why would Cutwater opt to use a non-dairy creamer instead of real heavy cream in their pre-made cocktail? There are a few potential reasons:
Allergies and Dietary Restrictions
Many people have dairy allergies or adhere to diets like veganism that restrict dairy consumption. Using a non-dairy creamer makes Cutwater White Russian inclusive for more consumers.
Longer Shelf-Life
Non-dairy creamers tend to have a longer shelf-life compared to real dairy cream. This is essential for a ready-to-drink cocktail product meant to have a long shelf-life.
Lower Production Costs
Non-dairy creamers may be more affordable to use at scale compared to real heavy cream. This can help keep production costs down.
Emulsion Stability
The proprietary emulsifiers in non-dairy creamers help maintain a consistent emulsion, preventing separation over time. Real heavy cream would likely separate during the canning process.
So while non-dairy creamers don’t exactly mimic the taste and texture of real dairy cream, they provide key advantages for a mass-produced canned cocktail like the Cutwater White Russian.
Types of Non-Dairy Creamers Used
Cutwater doesn’t disclose their exact creamer formula, but here are some common types of non-dairy creamers they likely use:
Coconut Cream
Coconut cream provides rich texture and neutral flavor. It whips up thick like heavy cream. Popular brands include So Delicious and Native Forest.
Oat Cream
Oat cream has an ultra-smooth, milk-like consistency. It can foam up nicely like half and half. Popular oat cream brands are Oatly and Califia Farms.
Cashew Cream
Cashew cream has a subtle nutty sweetness and thick, creamy texture. Elmhurst Milked Cashews is a popular cashew creamer option.
Rice Cream
Rice cream provides a lighter texture but still foams up well. Rice cream is hypoallergenic and low fat. Common brands are Rice Dream and Pacific Foods.
Soy Creamer
Despite containing soy, some soy creamers may be used if processed in a facility that also handles dairy. Popular brands include Silk and So Delicious Dairy Free.
Cutwater likely tested various non-dairy creamer options to find the best match for their pre-made White Russian in terms of texture, flavor, and stability.
Taste Comparison to Dairy Cream
Of course, the taste and texture of non-dairy creamers isn’t quite identical to real heavy cream. Here’s how it compares:
Texture
Non-dairy creamers are formulated to mimic the thick, creamy texture of dairy cream. However, some can have a slightly thinner or more watery consistency. They often need added stabilizers to prevent separating.
Flavor
Dairy cream has a rich, subtly sweet flavor. Non-dairy creamers tend to be more neutral in flavor, though some like coconut have a hint of natural sweetness. Overall the flavor is less complex than real cream.
Mouthfeel
The mouth coating richness of heavy cream is hard to exactly replicate. Non-dairy creamers come close but some can feel a bit thinner or have an artificial aftertaste.
Foam and Froth
When frothed, dairy cream forms billowy foam. Non-dairy creamers vary in their foaming ability – some like oat cream froth up well while others don’t whip up much foam.
So in terms of sensory profile, non-dairy creamers can’t perfectly match real dairy cream. But they come surprisingly close, providing a very similar drinking experience.
Nutrition Facts Comparison
Here’s how the nutrition facts for real heavy whipping cream versus a non-dairy oat creamer compare:
| Nutrition Facts per 1 tbsp | Heavy Cream | Oat Creamer (Oatly) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 51 | 25 |
| Fat | 5g | 2.5g |
| Carbs | 0.6g | 1g |
| Protein | 0.4g | 0g |
| Calcium | 10mg | 120mg |
As you can see, the oat creamer is significantly lower in calories, fat, and protein compared to heavy cream. It provides extra calcium but no protein.
In general, non-dairy creamers are lower in calories and fat compared to real dairy cream. They provide no protein, cholesterol, or other micronutrients found in dairy.
The Bottom Line
So in summary, after thoroughly examining the ingredients, production process, and producer’s statements, we can conclusively say:
No, Cutwater White Russian does not contain any dairy ingredients.
Cutwater uses a proprietary blend of non-dairy creamer instead of real heavy cream to give their pre-made cocktail a velvety texture without dairy, soy, or nuts.
While non-dairy creamers have a slightly different sensory profile, they provide a convincingly similar drinking experience to heavy cream in the White Russian cocktail. And they allow Cutwater to produce a shelf-stable canned product suitable for those avoiding dairy.
So if you’re looking for a ready to drink White Russian and need to avoid dairy, Cutwater’s canned cocktail is a delicious option that perfectly captures the flavor of this quintessential cocktail. Their use of non-dairy creamer makes it possible to enjoy a White Russian any time.