White Russian

I'm sipping on one right now between paragraphs. Damn that's good stuff. I like a little added vodka, but that's more an acquired taste. Take it your own pace. Which is what a white russian is all about.

The great thing about it is that it tastes good, but isn't excessively sissy like a Scorpion or Sex on the Beach or something fruity tasting like that. It can be a man's drink, but that sexy lady next to you in the club always wants a sip too.

Check out the way The Dude mixes his in The Big Lebowski. Studiously casual, barely even paying attention while he mixes it. None of this "half an oz. of this and that" nonsense. That's the real way to make a white russian. Doesn't taste quite right? Add more of whatever's missing. Relax. Smoke a joint. Enjoy the simple pleasures in life.

White Russian also describes those on the counter-revolutionary side in the Russian Civil War, fought in 1917 and 1918. These included supporters of the Tsar, as well as supporters of Alexander Kerensky's February Revolution. They were beaten by the Red Army under the command of Leon Trotsky.

Its origin has nothing to do with the race or ethnicity of Belarusians, who are Slavic just like their eastern neighbors in Russia. Some scholars think that "white" was originally used as a synonym for "free" in old Slavic languages, and "White Russia" got its name because it, unlike the other Russian principalities, was never invaded or ruled by the Tatars. It's also possible that it came about as a way of distinguishing "White Russian" territory from the "Black Russia" ruled from Kiev.