Brandy Alexander
The Brandy Alexander: The Creamy Dessert Cocktail That Replaced Its Gin Predecessor
The original Alexander cocktail appeared in Hugo Ensslin's 1915 "Recipes for Mixed Drinks" made with equal parts gin, white crème de cacao, and sweet cream Wikipedia. The drink was reportedly created by bartender Troy Alexander at Rector's restaurant in New York to celebrate an advertising campaign featuring the fictional character Phoebe Snow, who was dressed in white to promote clean-burning coal Imbibe Magazine.
In the early 1920s, Harry MacElhone, then working at Ciro's in London, is credited with starting the trend of using brandy instead of gin Difford's Guide. The Brandy Alexander first appeared in print in 1937 in William J. Tarling's Café Royal Cocktail Book Chilled Magazine. The brandy version quickly became more popular than the original gin-based cocktail.
The Brandy Alexander became a staple of mid-20th century cocktail culture and gained fame through pop culture references. It was John Lennon's favorite cocktail and appeared in films and television shows throughout the 1960s and 1970s, cementing its status as a classic dessert drink.
RECIPE:
1½ oz brandy (cognac)
1 oz dark crème de cacao
1 oz heavy cream
Freshly grated nutmeg for garnish
Method:
Add brandy, crème de cacao, and cream to shaker with ice
Shake vigorously until well-chilled
Strain into chilled coupe glass
Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg