Brandy Alexander
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Brandy Alexander
Serve in a Coupe glass
| 1 2⁄3 oz | Rémy Martin V.S.O.P. cognac |
| 1⁄2 oz | Dark crème de cacao liqueur |
| 1⁄2 oz | White crème de cacao liqueur |
| 1 oz | Single cream/half-and-half |
How to make:
- Select and pre-chill a Coupe glass.
- Prepare garnish of lemon zest twist grated nutmeg.
- SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
- FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.
- Express lemon zest twist over the cocktail and discard.
- Garnish with dusting of nutmeg grated over cocktail.
Allergens:
Recipe contains the following allergens:
- Single cream/half-and-half - Dairy
Strength & taste guide:
No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Cocktail of the day:
31st January 2025 is Brandy Alexander Day
Review:
This after-dinner classic is rich, creamy and subtly chocolaty.
AKA: Alexander No. 2, The Panama
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.
Nutrition:
One serving of Brandy Alexander contains 258 calories
Alcohol content:
- 1.4 standard drinks
- 18.38% alc./vol. (18.38° proof)
- 20.2 grams of pure alcohol
- More Classic/vintage cocktails
- More Creamy (e.g. Dirty banana) cocktails
- More Dessert cocktails cocktails
- More Hall of Fame & must know/try cocktails
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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It may have been John Lennon's favourite, but it isn't ours.
Anonymous
Simon,
As today is the 40th anniversary of John Lennon's death, the Brandy Alexander could also be added to the 8 Dec 'Cocktail of the day'...
Just a suggestion. Thanks for the excellent work on this site, including all the great historical tidbits...