Despite its name, the White Russian did not originate in Russia. It is a variation of the Black Russian, which was created in 1949 by Gustave Tops, a bartender at the Hotel Metropole in Brussels, in honor of the U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg. The 'Russian' part of the name simply refers to the primary ingredient: vodka. The Black Russian consists of vodka and coffee liqueur. The 'White' version adds cream or milk to the mix. The drink remained a relatively obscure classic until the 1998 film *The Big Lebowski*, where the main character, 'The Dude,' consumes several of them throughout the movie. This film catapulted the drink into modern pop culture, leading to a massive resurgence in its popularity and its status as a cult favorite in bars worldwide.