30 mL cognac
30 mL crème de cacao (brown)
30 mL fresh cream
Mix in a shaker
Cocktail glass
Nutmeg
Mix the ingredients in a shaker with ice and then pour into a chilled glass. Grated nutmeg will work as a decoration!
A Brandy Alexander is a delightful dessert cocktail that combines cognac, crème de cacao, and cream. Gaining popularity in the early 20th century, this cocktail is a variation of an earlier gin-based drink known simply as an Alexander. Today, an Alexander can be made with either gin or brandy, and for a special twist, ice cream can be added to create a “frozen Brandy Alexander”.
The origins of the Brandy Alexander are shrouded in various tales and legends. One story claims it was concocted for the wedding celebration of Princess Mary and Viscount Lascelles in London in 1922. Another account comes from Alexander Woollcott, a drama critic and member of the Algonquin Round Table, who claimed the drink was named in his honor. Additionally, some believe it was named after the Russian tsar Alexander II.
Perhaps the most credible story attributes the creation to Troy Alexander, a bartender at Rector’s, a New York City restaurant. Troy Alexander is said to have invented the cocktail to serve a white drink at a dinner celebrating Phoebe Snow, a character featured in a prominent early 20th-century advertising campaign.
The Brandy Alexander has made notable appearances in film and television, often symbolizing sophistication or indulgence. In the movie “Days of Wine and Roses,” Jack Lemmon’s character, Joe Clay, orders a Brandy Alexander for Kirsten Arneson, played by Lee Remick, knowing she likes chocolate but not liquor. This gesture leads Kirsten down a path of alcoholism.
In the 1981 film “Tattoo,” Bruce Dern’s character orders a Brandy Alexander for Maud Adams’ character during dinner. When she remarks that he doesn’t seem like the type to drink Brandy Alexanders, he responds, “I like the foam… it reminds me of the ocean.”
In James Gray’s movie “Two Lovers,” Gwyneth Paltrow’s character Michelle mentions to Joaquin Phoenix’s character Leonard that she enjoys Brandy Alexanders with her wealthy boyfriend. Attempting to impress her, Leonard orders one but awkwardly uses the stirrer as a straw.
The drink also appears in the 1970 pilot of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” where Mary, the title character, humorously asks for a Brandy Alexander during a job interview, adding to a running gag in the episode.
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