Smith & Kearns

The Smith & Kearns is a delightful and often-overlooked classic cocktail. It begins with the rich, sweet notes of coffee liqueur, which are then softened by a layer of light cream or milk. The drink is built directly in a highball glass over ice and finished with a top of club soda, giving it a light, effervescent texture that sets it apart from its more famous cousin, the White Russian. It's a perfect balance of creamy, sweet, and fizzy.
Smith & Kearns

Preparation

Preparation time: 2 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Smith & Kearns is classified as a creamy cocktail due to its use of cream or milk. It's a simple highball, often considered a retro or mid-century classic, enjoyed as an after-dinner or dessert drink.

Serving

Serve this cold drink in a tall Highball or Collins glass filled with ice. It's a relatively low-alcohol cocktail, making it an easy-sipping option.
Serving size
Approximately 180-240 ml / 6-8 oz
Alcohol content
ABV: 5-10%
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Highball
Glass treatment
None

Backstory

The origins of the Smith & Kearns are somewhat obscure, but it is believed to have been created in the mid-20th century in the United States. The most popular story attributes its invention to a bar in North Dakota. The drink was purportedly named after two regular patrons, oilmen by the names of Smith and Kearns, who frequently ordered this specific concoction.
Origin
United States, likely North Dakota, mid-20th century.

Smith & Kearns

The drink is consistently known as the Smith & Kearns, sometimes spelled out as 'Smith and Kearns'. It is a straightforward name, widely recognized in regions where it gained popularity.
Original name
Smith & Kearns
Alternative name
Smith and Kearns

Characteristics overview

This drink offers a creamy texture and sweet coffee flavor, with a light fizziness from the soda that creates a refreshing experience. Its appearance is a pleasant tan color, and it leaves a clean, short aftertaste.
Flavor
Creamy, Coffee, Sweet, Light, Fizzy
Aroma
Coffee, Cream, Hint of sweetness
Taste balance
Sweet, Creamy
Aftertaste
Clean, Sweet, Short
Fizziness
Lightly carbonated, Effervescent
Color appearance
Layered, Tan, Opaque, Bubbly top
Texture
Creamy, Smooth, Light, Bubbly
Seasonality
Refreshing, All-season

Flavor intensity & Experience

The drink is moderately sweet and very creamy, with a low alcohol presence and a gentle fizz. The dominant flavor is coffee from the liqueur, with minimal bitterness and no fruitiness or spice.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

You will need coffee liqueur, light cream (or milk), and club soda for this cocktail. The preparation is simple as all ingredients are built directly in the glass.
  • Coffee Liqueur60 ml / 2 oz
    Kahlúa is the most common choice.
  • Light Cream30 ml / 1 oz
    Half-and-half or whole milk can be substituted for a lighter version.
  • Club SodaTop up (approx. 90 ml / 3 oz)
    Should be well chilled.

Ice type

  • Cubed

Mixing equipments

No special equipment is needed; the drink is built directly in the serving glass. A bar spoon can be used to gently mix the layers if desired.
  • Highball Glass for building and serving
  • Bar Spoon for gentle stirring

Instructions

This drink is built directly in an ice-filled highball glass. Simply add the coffee liqueur, float the cream on top, and finish with club soda before serving.
1. Fill a highball glass with ice cubes.
2. Pour the coffee liqueur over the ice.
3. Gently pour the light cream over the back of a spoon to create a distinct layer on top of the liqueur.
4. Top up the glass with chilled club soda.
5. Serve immediately, either as is or with a gentle stir to combine.

Garnishing

Traditionally, the Smith & Kearns is served without a garnish, allowing its simple, creamy appearance to stand on its own.
  • None. The drink is traditionally served without a garnish.

Dietary Information

This cocktail contains dairy and is not vegan; it also contains caffeine from the coffee liqueur. Check the specific brand of coffee liqueur for gluten information, as some may contain gluten.
✓ Contains alcohol
✕ Caffeine-free
✕ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✕ Gluten-free
✕ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

The Smith & Kearns is moderately caloric with a significant sugar content, primarily from the coffee liqueur. Carbohydrate content is also notable due to the sugars.
Calories
Averagely 200-250 kcal / 837-1046 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Averagely 20-25 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Averagely 20-25 g
Sugar level

Occasions

This cocktail is perfectly suited as a dessert or after-dinner drink, thanks to its creamy and sweet profile. It's also an excellent choice for a casual evening at home when you want something simple yet satisfying.
  • After-dinner Drink
  • Dessert Drink
  • Casual Sipping
  • Relaxing Evening

Pairing suggestions

This cocktail pairs beautifully with desserts, especially those with chocolate or coffee flavors like tiramisu or a rich chocolate cake. It also complements simple biscotti or light pastries, acting as a liquid dessert itself.
  • Chocolate desserts
  • Tiramisu
  • Biscotti
  • Light pastries

Smith & Kearns: The Fizzy, Creamy Classic

The Smith & Kearns is a wonderfully simple and satisfying after-dinner cocktail. Its combination of rich coffee liqueur, smoothing cream, and a fizzy soda top creates a unique texture and flavor profile that sets it apart from other creamy drinks. Easy to make and delightful to sip, it's a retro classic worth rediscovering for its balanced sweetness and refreshing effervescence. It is a perfect, low-effort drink for a relaxing evening.

Similar Cocktails

White Russian

A White Russian is very similar but omits the club soda and adds vodka, making it stronger and purely creamy.

Black Russian

A Black Russian is the simplest form, containing only vodka and coffee liqueur served on the rocks, with no cream or soda.

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