MxMo Submission: Careful, Man, There's A Beverage Here!
The Mixology Monday theme this month is "Guilty Pleasures." Like it or not, many cocktailians (including , um, yours truly) raise their noses in the air. It can be part of truly appreciating what you've spent a great deal of time contemplating, but it can also come across as base snobbery. As host Stevi Deter puts it, "in the world of cocktail bloggery, we are often pronouncing certain
drinks, categories of drinks, and even an entire base spirit to be the
sign of a poorly educated drinker’s palate. There seems to be no room
for comfort cocktails." Well, I think this one definitely qualifies as a comfort cocktail. It's sweet, has cream in it, and the base spirit is vodka. What could be more self-indulgent? It's even identified with the ultimate slacker touchstone, "The Big Lebowski," spawner of fan fests and souvenir products. (Say what you will about Achievers, at least it's an ethos.) The movie, which was released ten years ago this week, was described by the BBC as "two hours of wild self-indulgence", and clearly the "Caucasian" is a drink that fits the bill.
The White Russian is a simple cocktail, with just three ingredients; its origins lie in the even simpler Black Russian. Invented by Gustav Tops, a bartender at Brussels' Hotel Metropole in the late 1940s, the Black Russian consists solely of Kahlúa and vodka over crushed ice. (Tops concocted the drink to honor U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg (and society hostess) Perle Mesta, who also inspired the Irving Berlin musical "Call Me Madam.") The White Russian simply adds cream, though the Dude was known to occasionally take his with half-and-half. (During the movie, he drinks nine White Russians -- and drops one, though that one had a Mickey Finn as the unauthorized secret ingredient. I don't recommend adding that to your recipe, though it may result in vivid dreams and cab rides involving the Eagles.)
Proportions of the ingredients vary all over the place: the IBA and Wikipedia specify five parts vodka, two parts Kahlúa, and three parts cream, but I prefer the more common proportions from DrinkBoy and elsewhere:
White Russian
- 2 oz. vodka
- 1 oz. Kahlúa
- 1/2 oz. cream or half-and-half.
Build over ice in a rocks glass, floating the cream on top. Abide.
The bums may have lost, but they have a hell of a drink to console them. And I don't know about you, but I take comfort in that.
UPDATE: The roundup's been posted over at Two at the Most. Thanks to Stevi Deter for hosting!
But, But, But! Wikipedia is always right! Right?
In all seriousness, I think one of the best things about this month's MxMo is a chance to really take a second look at drinks like this. I have to admit that I've never had a White Russian.
Posted by: Doug Winship | October 14, 2008 at 02:51 PM
Sorry to rant on your blog space, Doug, but it's time to let the world know: The Coen Brothers stole from my life to make Lebowski. And, to quote Eddie Murphy, when I see them boys, I'm gonna stick my foot so deep up their ass, their breath gonna smell like shoe polish.
Summer of 1991, me and my close friend Brian spent a summer working in Yellowstone Park. Brian decides to quit smoking. Brian channels his energy into playing guitar, performing "Peaceful Easy Feeling" by the Eagles. I tell Brian that's a stupid song. Brian leaps across the room and attacks me. Brian is instantly filled with remorse. Brian give me some Oreo cookies.
Years later, a cab driver flies into homicidal rage and throws the dude out of his cab because he dissed "Peaceful Easy Feeling."
That ain't no coincidence. That's plagiarism! Coen boys, if you're reading...I'm on to you!
Posted by: Ted | October 15, 2008 at 12:57 AM
Beautiful summary of both the movie and the drink! You are clearly a person of exceptional taste & breeding.
Plus, that portable caucasian kit is one of the coolest things I've ever seen.
Posted by: Dr. Bamboo | October 15, 2008 at 11:14 AM
I prefer mine with more kahlua than vodka, though that isn't the norm. :) Found your blog via Dear PR Flack. Evernoted :)
Posted by: Leslie Poston | October 16, 2008 at 01:26 PM
I just found your blog and I love it! I am a huge travel bar fan and that one is fantastic. Love White Russians too.
If you get a chance to stop by, check out my blog.
ML
mlanesepic.blogspot.com
Posted by: M.Lane | October 19, 2008 at 11:55 PM