Home Made White Russian (The Big Lebowski)

After giving my liver a few weeks off, I decided to get back into drinking mode after watching The Big Lebowski for the first time.

Okay, okay...I know this was your face when you read that I haven't seen The Big Lebowski before:

I understand, I totally get it.  For someone who started her career working at a video store, this was a huge oversight on my part.  In the end I think I didn't watch it because I knew it wasn't really my kind of movie.  I was right, but I did find a lot more of it amusing than I thought.

My favorite, of course, was the way that The Dude always seems to have a White Russian in his hand.  In fact, my favorite scene was the "Hey, careful, man, there's a beverage here!" because I'm always careful about spilling my own drinks.

I also do love a White Russian, especially since my Amaretto ran out so I can't make Toasted Almonds anymore.  Since a WR is made from Vodka, Kahlua, and Milk, I went to our home bar to get out the ingredients.  I found an ancient bottle of Smirnoff that had literally evaporated into nothing under the bar.

White Russian, Antique Smirnoff bottle

I threw it into our recycling bin, but my mother was worried about our neighbors judging her for having a "full bottle of vodka."  I told her that they will know by the label that she took at least two decades to get through that bottle, and no one will judge her.

There is something about this drink that makes me feel warm and comfortable, which I'm sure is why The Dude abides so willingly.  I was ready to put this up as a potential drink, then I realized that this movie wasn't actually filmed at the Bowling Stadium, and I was mixing it up with Kingpin, another movie I've yet to see.  I don't think that one has as much drinking in it, so it might be awhile before it pops up on my Netflix queue.

Also, after writing this I found a great Cracked video about how The Big Lebowski is pretty much Alice in Wonderland.  I approve.

Home Made Toasted Almond

Sometimes you have to go simple and make a drink at home.  It's not as pretty as if you were to go out and have a professional bartender make it, but it tastes the same.

I love making and drinking Toasted Almonds because it's like an alcoholic chocolate milk.  It's just three ingredients: Disaronno, Kahlua, and Cream.  When I'm at home I usually substitute the cream for milk.  I always vary the booze to the cream depending on how buzzed I'd like to be.  I tend to make it on the boozier side by pouring out while counting to three on the Disaronno and Kahlua, then filling the rest of the glass with the milk.

I think this one could be a real contender for state drink.  It's easy to make and is very tasty.  The only thing that holds it up is that none of the ingredients are really from Reno...although I do use Model Dairy!  Does that count at all?  Yeah, I didn't think so.  The search continues!

Mudslide at the Fireside Lounge @RenoPeppermill

 

During a Staycation last month, Neon Beast and I decided to hit up the Fireside Lounge at the Peppermill before heading to our room in the West Wing.  Side Note: Beauty and the Beast?  He didn't want her to go to the West Wing because it was TOO FAR AWAY FROM THE CASINO/LOBBY!!!  Over 500 steps according to my Fitbit.  Don't let my Fitbit know that I had this drink please?

I was so tired after walking all over the casino, moving the car, and having a pretty terrible AYCE Sushi experience at Oceano (the quality of the fish was not sushi-grade, but everything else was good), that I just wanted to have a drink that would be dessert as well as booze to help me sleep through the construction of those new houses by Virginia Lake.  That being said, our room was very beautiful and comfy.  We almost left the TV on one of the channels where they show other places because the music was so soothing.

It was a pricey drink at $11.00, but it really was tasty.  I'd been waiting to go to the Fireside Lounge since I turned 21.  I had this big dream that I would have my 21st birthday celebration there, and imagined how cool it would be.  As it turns out my birthday fell on Spring Break so everyone was out of town and I ended up at a steakhouse with my parents and having a fishbowl drink with Neon Beast at the now defunct Trader Dicks.

I've had quite a few mudslides in my time, but I must say that this is the best I've ever had.  The fireside lounge has seen better days I'm sure, but it's still nice and cozy and looks like the old coffee shop, which is oddly comforting.  Even though it's a lot of money, I would come back here with a group of friends and pretend it was for my birthday.

Peppermill

2707 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89502
1-866-821-9996
Open 24 Hours