A pop culture icon and creamy after dinner drink, the White Russian is an American favorite. It has also inspired many spin-off drinks, all with tastes of their own.
Ask any man from 20 to 40 what they think of the White Russian and his response may likely be, “The Dude abides.” The reference, and the cause for the White Russian’s most recent surge in popularity, is the movie “The Big Lebowski.” In the movie, the main character, The Dude, drinks the vodka, kahlua, and cream combination religiously, and to a most hilariously fault.
The Dude’s favorite cocktail was around many decades before even he could enjoy it, inspiring new drinks and adding more options to after dinner libations. Each drink in the White Russian family has a uniqueness that makes it a tasty treat.
White Russian
It’s difficult to put a date on the invention of any cocktail, and the White Russian is no exception. However, the name of the drink dates it near the end of World War I, when the “White Russians”, an anti-Bolshevik group, was still in existence. The drink itself isn’t Russian, but the combination of vodka as its main ingredient and the white color of the cream, give the cocktail its name.
Ingredients:
2 oz Vodka
2 oz Kahlua
1 oz Cream
Pour vodka and Kahlua over ice in a cocktail glass. Add the cream on top. Serve. Half and Half, milk, and Irish creme are often substituted for the cream.
Black Russian
Called a Black Russian due to the absense of the cream, this cocktail officially originated in 1949 in Brussels. The story says that a Belgium barmaid at the Hotel Metropole created the drink as a tribute to the U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg, Perle Mesta.
Ingredients:
3 oz Vodka
2 oz Kahlua
In a cocktail glass, add the Vodka and Kahlua over ice. Serve
The Colorado Bulldog
By adding a little cola taste, the Colorado Bulldog, or .357, gives something special to the original drink.
Ingredients:
1 ounce Vodka
1 ounce Kahlua
.5 oz Half-and-half
.5 oz of Cola
Add Vodka and Kahlua to a rocks glass over ice. Add cream or half-and-half. Top with Cola. Stir Slightly and serve.
Black Magic
To make the Black Russian a little sour, add some lemon.
Ingredients:
2 oz Vodka
1 oz Kahlua
1 dash fresh lemon juice
Combine ingredients in a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a lemon twist.