Smooth and creamy, the Brandy Alexander is a delicious way to end the week. White and innocent in appearance, this “milkshake” is full of dark chocolate flavor with the benefit of a brandy kick. As an after dinner drink, or with dessert, the Alexander will soothe away any concerns that might be lingering and relax you into the weekend ahead.

The Brandy Alexander has been around for a long time and is believed to have been invented in the early 1920’s during prohibition. Bootleg liquor was not always known to be tasty, so drinks using creams and sweeteners became very popular.  As with any cocktail that dates back aways, there of course are differing stories as to the actual origin of the drink. One account is that the drink was created in London to celebrate the wedding of Princess Mary to Lord Lascelles. The story I prefer is that the drink originated in a premier New York City speakeasy and lobster palace, when a bartender by the name of Troy Alexander concocted his creation in order to be able to serve a white drink at a dinner celebrating Phoebe Snow. I know you are thinking this can not be correct, however we are not talking about the “Poetry Man” Phoebe, rather a fictitious character created for marketing campaigns by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. The company was promoting its use of anthracite, a clean burning coal to power its locomotives, and showed Miss Snow not afraid to travel in a snow-white dress and gloves. Interesting to me that the propaganda for clean coal is nothing new.

Print

Brandy Alexander

White and innocent in appearance, this “milkshake” is full of dark chocolate flavor with the benefit of a brandy kick.

Course Cocktails

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1

Ingredients

• 2 oz brandy or cognac
• 1 ½ oz dark crème de cacao
• 1 ½ oz half-n-half

Instructions

• Measure all ingredients into a shaker filled half full of ice.
• Shake hard, and strain into a chilled martini glass.
• Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh ground nutmeg.

Notes

This drink is also sometimes blended with crushed ice and served frozen.

I wish everyone a great weekend no matter what you do.

Life is short, so try to make some time to relax.