The White Russian

Want to craft the greatest White Russian of all time? You’ll need more than vodka, Kahlúa, and cream—you need a little attitude. Cue the late 90s, when the Coen brothers gifted the world The Big Lebowski and introduced us to the inimitable ‘The Dude.’

This laid-back, bathrobe-wearing antihero wasn’t sipping White Russians for sophistication. No martini-glass drama here—The Dude powered through nine of these creamy masterpieces in the film, slurping them down with a carefree charm that made the cocktail an instant cultural icon. Let’s face it: he made laziness look like an art form, and the White Russian his boozy paintbrush.

The drink itself predates The Dude by a few decades—it first showed up in the swinging 60s. But it took this cult-classic film to elevate it from an overlooked relic to the pinnacle of cool. So, whether you’re channeling your inner Lebowski or just looking for a decadent sipper, the White Russian delivers a creamy kick with unapologetic swagger. Here’s to abiding.