Contrary to its name, the White Russian was created in Brussels circa 1949, when bartender Gustavo Tops mixed vodka, coffee liqueur, and cream—a drink to welcome the U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg. The drink almost faded into the dark ages until 1998 when The Big Lebowski, a cult classic film, featured a quirky bathrobe wearing, White Russian drinking detective who spends his spare time at bowling alleys. “The Dude” downs nine of these drinks by the end of the film, inspiring millions of fans to sip a White Russian at their local bowling alleys whilst solving crime cases.