The White Russian Walked so the Little Lebowski Could Run

The White Russian, a boozy, caffeinated cocktail made with cream and coffee liqueur, was popularized by the 1998 feature film The Big Lebowski. Award-winning bartender Kaitlyn Stewart’s playful and aptly named Little Lebowski subs in velvety eggnog for heavy cream, giving this holiday-ready cocktail a custard-like richness that’s countered by bittersweet notes of cold brew coffee, coffee liqueur, and amaro. Look for plain or traditional nonalcoholic eggnog to strike the right balance of flavors in this cozy after-dinner sipper.

Frequently asked questions 

What is cold brew coffee? 

There’s a plethora of ways to brew a cup of Joe. While cold brew has been one of the most popular ways to make coffee in the past few years, it uses a simple infusion method that has its roots in a centuries-old method of tea brewing. To make cold brew, coffee grains are steeped in water, slowly imparting their flavors and essential oils. Unlike drip coffee, French press coffee, or pour over, which rely on boiling hot water to bloom coffee grounds, the cold or room temperature infusion can yield a more mellow, lower-acid brew. While any chilled coffee will work in this cocktail (even a shot of espresso lengthened with water), the softer, more luscious cold brew pairs really nicely with the more strongly flavored ingredients in this drink like eggnog and amaro. 

Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen

Sweet and creamy, with enough bitterness from the coffee and amaro to keep it in balance, the Little Lebowski has everything you want from an after dinner drink. The freshly grated nutmeg plays off the spice notes of the amaro — we recommend using a sweeter-style amaro like Amaro Montenegro compared to something more vegetal or herbaceous in flavor.

Make ahead

This cocktail can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.