What is added to a White Russian cocktail to give it a creamy texture?

In a White Russian cocktail, the creamy texture that characterizes the drink comes from the addition of half and half. Half and half is a dairy product made from equal parts milk and cream, which provides a rich and smooth mouthfeel when mixed with the other ingredients. This combination of flavors—typically vodka and coffee liqueur—paired with the half and half creates the signature creamy experience synonymous with a White Russian.

The other options do not contribute to the creamy texture of the drink. Grenadine is a syrup that adds sweetness and a hint of fruitiness, soda water is a carbonated mixer that adds no creaminess but rather dilution and fizz, while triple sec is a sweet orange liqueur that adds flavor but not the desired creamy mouthfeel. Thus, half and half is essential for achieving the characteristic richness of a White Russian.