Today's cocktail: Black / White Russian

Today's ingredients: vodka, coffee liqueur, cream

Today's vocabulary: abide

One cornerstone of my marriage is movie and TV quotes. The wife and I can--and sometimes do--to have coherent conversations using only quotes, but more often than not, scripted lines get peppered into our normal discourse, from Bull Durham to Futurama. It's just how we communicate. I don't remember the first time I watched The Big Lebowski, nor do I know how many times I've watched it since then. I'm pretty sure I didn't like it at first, but then, I don't think I knew what I was watching. Regardless, it has become arguably my favorite movie of all time, with other Coen Brothers' works way up there, namely O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Fargo, and despite being a remake, True Grit. I apparently also seem to gravitate toward movies with Steve Buscemi in them. I'm not entirely sure why. We might go into that another time, especially after I finish watching Boardwalk Empire.

Credit: Working Title Films

Few names in pop culture evoke a very specific and widely known essence as "The Dude." Even if you've never seen The Big Lebowski--if this is the case, stop reading right now and go watch it... seriously, go away--you probably know about The Dude: unemployed, bathrobed, often found at the bowling alley, and not at all concerned with most of life's typical annoyances. If not for The Dude, the word "abide" would've faded from the modern American lexicon. It's a modern day embodiment of a Zen mindset, digestible in a two-hour session, much like Ron Livingston's character Peter Gibbons in Office Space, and much quicker than reading the (long-ish but great) book Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers.

Aside from popularizing, if only tongue-in-cheek, a borderline nihilistic outlook on life, The Dude played no small part in popularizing his signature drink--the White Russian, dubbed a Caucasian in the movie--and really giving the cocktail world a small boost during some sluggish times, more so than a passing mention in The Naked Gun 2 1/2. Similar bumps can be seen in various markets thanks to movies like Sideways (red wines) and The Internship (Pappy Van Winkle bourbon), to say nothing of classic cocktails, including the White Russian, referenced throughout the Mad Men series.

Black / White Russian

The Dude's Caucasian recipe favors two parts vodka to one part coffee liqueur plus any kind of creamer available (straight, half-and-half, or even powdered). This is not that:

• 5cl / 1.67oz vodka
• 2cl / .67oz coffee liqueur
• splash cream (if making a White Russian)
• Pour all ingredients into an Old Fashioned glass filled with ice cubes
• Stir gently

Another IBA-designated cocktail that is simple, inexpensive, and really not much for variation beyond brand names. Depending on the coffee liqueur you choose (likely Kahlua) and whether or not you add cream, your vodka choice won't make much difference; however, that's not to say you should just grab the first bottle of Stoli you see on the shelf.

Despite vodka's reputation as a "stealth" alcohol (subtle/absent flavor or smell), vodka does come from many sources such as wheat, rye, barley, rice, and/or potatoes--the candy-store variety of vodkas normally seen at the liquor store depend largely on flavor additives after the distillation process, similar to what you get in overly sweet rums. This is a good opportunity to try something you might not have picked up before, and there are several widespread, higher-quality options like Chopin and Armadale out there (remember, this is an investment). As with all ingredients, try it by itself before mixing it. The better products will be smooth and earthly, not peppery and sulfurous (no joke, I've had vodkas that hinted at a chemical factory origin).

For my part, I went with Topo Vodka, which is an all-organic, in-state product from Chapel Hill, and this subtle spirit does well on its own as an afternoon sipper on whiskey stones, so it follows that it makes a darned good cocktail as well and will likely be the vodka of choice when needed. Its distribution footprint is limited, so see what there is to see at your local purveyor, and always ask the staff any questions you might have. More often than not, they're excited to talk shop with someone looking for taste rather than the quickest route to a hangover. However, if your budget so dictates, start with what you can comfortably afford and work your way up later. The Dude abides, and so will your liquor cabinet.