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Brandy Alexander
Measurements in:
Serves:
| 1 2⁄3 fl oz | Cognac (brandy) |
| 1⁄2 fl oz | Tempus Fugit Crème de Cacao à la Vanille |
| 1⁄3 fl oz | Giffard White Crème de Cacao Liqueur |
| 3⁄4 fl oz | Whipping cream (chilled) |
How to make
Glass
Photographed in an Urban Bar Plain Retro Coupette 15cl
Prepare
- Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.
- Prepare garnish of lemon zest twist grated nutmeg.
Method
- SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
- FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.
Garnish
- EXPRESS lemon zest twist over the cocktail and discard.
- Dust with freshly grated nutmeg.
Flavour Profile
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Health & Nutrition
Nutrition:
One serving of Brandy Alexander contains 265 calories
Alcohol content:
- 1.5 standard drinks
- 19.68% alc./vol. (39.36° proof)
- 20.6 grams of pure alcohol
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.
Harry MacElhone, Harry of Ciro's ABC of mixing cocktails, 1923
⅓ Crème de Cacao, ⅓ Brandy, ⅓ Fresh Cream.
Shake well and strain into cocktail glass.
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.)
Harry Craddock, 1930
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.
Review
This after-dinner classic is rich, creamy and subtly chocolaty.
AKA: Alexander No. 2, The Panama
Cocktail of the day:
31st January 2026 is Brandy Alexander Day
$0.43 per cocktail*
Makes a minimum of 75 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.
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* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.
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Comments & Discussion
This is one of the best evening cocktail to help in digestion and relax before bed. I either cut back a little on the liqueurs as they make it a bit sweet, add a bit more brandy/cognac, or add some Chocolate Bitters. Or a combination of all. Enjoy.
This one is well balanced, brandy forward, lightly creamy, chocolate lingering in the aftertaste.
It may have been John Lennon's favourite, but it isn't ours.
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