Brandy Alexander

Difford's Guide
Discerning Drinkers (99 ratings)

Serve in a

Coupe glass

Garnish:

Dust with freshly grated nutmeg

How to make:

SHAKE all ingredients with ice and fine strain into chilled glass.

1 2/3 fl oz Cognac (brandy)
1/2 fl oz Dark crème de cacao liqueur
1/2 fl oz Dutch Cacao white crème de cacao
5/6 fl oz Single cream / half-and-half
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AKA:

Alexander No. 2, The Panama

Review:

This after-dinner classic is rich, creamy and subtly chocolaty.

History:

The original Alexander was gin-based, but in the early 1920s, Harry MacElhone, then a bartender at Ciro's in London, is credited with starting the trend of using brandy in place of gin. What became known as the Brandy Alexander quickly displaced the original gin-based cocktail.

MacElhone's creation of the brandy-based Alexander is supported by the first recipe for such a cocktail appearing in his 1923 Harry of Ciro's ABC of mixing cocktails

Alexander Cocktail.
⅓ Crème de Cacao, ⅓ Brandy, ⅓ Fresh Cream.
Shake well and strain into cocktail glass.

Harry MacElhone, Harry of Ciro's ABC of mixing cocktails, 1923

In his 1930 The Savoy Cocktail Book, Harry Craddock includes the gin-based Alexander Cocktail No. 1 and the brandy-based Alexander Cocktail No. 2, along with a gin-based and crème de menthe-influenced Alexander's Sister.

ALEXANDER COCKTAIL. (No. 1.)
½ Dry Gin.
¼ Crème de Cacao.
¼ Sweet Cream.
Shake well and strain into cocktail glass.

ALEXANDER COCKTAIL. (No. 2.)
⅓ Crème de Cacao.
⅓ Brandy. ⅓ Fresh Cream.
Shake well and strain into cocktail glass.

ALEXANDER's SISTER COCKTAIL.)
⅓ Gin. ⅓ Fresh Cream.
⅓ Crème de Menthe.
Shake well and strain into cocktail glass.

Ladies are advised to avoid this Cocktail as often as possible.

Harry Craddock, 1930

Nutrition:

One serving of Brandy Alexander contains 248 calories.

Alcohol content:

  • 1.6 standard drinks
  • 21.01% alc./vol. (42.02° proof)
  • 22.1 grams of pure alcohol
Difford's Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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Buy direct from
the_whisky_exchange store logo
£ -.--

Makes a minimum of ... cocktails
Just £ -.-- per cocktail*

* This list may not include all required ingredients.
Price per cocktail is an estimate based on the cost of making one cocktail with the available ingredients shown above and does not include any postage charges.
Buy direct from Difford’s Guide
Difford's Easy Jigger
£8.72 £8.72 exc VAT
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