Brandy Alexander

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