White Russian

Author Notes

This rather unsubtle, postwar favorite was restored to relevancy by the Coen Brothers film 'The Big Lebowski,' in which Jeff Bridge's sublimely unfazed Dude drinks them religiously. It's a good drink if you're not inclined toward a lot of thinking at the moment (which was just about any moment for the Dude). The vodka ensures it doesn't approach the flavor complexity of a Brandy Alexander. But if both vodka and cream and coffee are among your favorite things, this may be your jam. —Robert Simonson