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.

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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.

Dangerously dark and delicious, this “Scotch Manhattan” will definitely help you forget about the work week behind you. The Rob Roy, best described as “a gentleman’s drink that will put hair on your chest”, has been around for a long, long time.

The cocktail is thought to have been invented at the Old Waldorf Hotel in 1894, around the time an opera inspired by Sir Walter Scott’s book Rob Roy, opened in Herald Square, and thus the name. Another factor that may have contributed to the creation of this drink, is that Dewar’s Scotch Whiskey was first introduced to New York also around this time, and the name may have been given to stimulate liquor sales. Regardless the drink is now considered a true classic and part of the American culture.

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Rob Roy

Dangerously dark and delicious, this Scotch Manhattan is best described as “A gentleman’s drink that will put hair on your chest.”

Course Cocktails

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1

Ingredients

Classic Rob Roy

• 1 ½ oz scotch
• ½ oz sweet vermouth
• 1-2 dashes Angostura bitters

Dry Rob Roy

• 1 ½ oz scotch
• ½ oz dry vermouth
• 1-2 dashes Angostura bitters

Perfect Rob Roy

• 1 ½ oz scotch
• ½ oz equal parts dry/sweet vermouth
• 1-2 dashes Angostura bitters

Instructions

Classic Rob Roy

• Pour scotch, vermouth and bitters over ice. Stir and strain into a stemmed cocktail glass.
• Garnish with maraschino cherry.

Dry Rob Roy

• Pour scotch, vermouth and bitters over ice. Stir and strain into a stemmed cocktail glass.
• Garnish with lemon twist

Perfect Rob Roy

• Pour scotch, vermouth and bitters over ice. Stir and strain into a stemmed cocktail glass.
• Garnish with maraschino cherry or lemon twist.

The story of Rob Roy was also retold in a 1995 movie by director Michael Caton-Jones, starring Liam Neeson and Jessica Lange.

Perhaps it would be a good night to rent the movie, drink a scotch, and maybe enjoy some shepherds pie?. Well whatever your weekend holds for you, I hope you take some time to enjoy!

Deliciously fruity, packing a powerful punch, the hurricane cocktail is a great way to forget about the work week. Named for the shape of the glass it is served in, (resembling a hurricane lamp), this sweet, daiquiri style drink came into existence in a small bar in New Orleans.

During the 1930’s, Pat O’Brien owned a speakeasy in the French Quarter. When prohibition ended, O’Brien converted his operation into a legitimate establishment. Business was good, and the place was always filled with local folks sharing lively conversation, enjoying music played on the upright piano in the corner of the bar. It wasn’t long before Pat’s business was busting at the seams, so O’Brien decided to become partners with his good friend Charlie Cantrell, and together they purchased a larger building just a block away at 718 St. Peter Street, where it is still in operation today.

Whiskey, bourbon and scotch were in short supply in the early 1940’s. Local liquor men strong armed bar owners to buy large amounts of rum (which was readily available) in order to get the liquor they needed. O’Brien created the hurricane, and gave it to sailors as a way to get rid of the extra rum. Well the drink caught on, and the rest is history. Today the hurricane is as iconic to New Orleans as the saxophone and the crayfish, and no visit to the French Quarter would be complete with out one.

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Hurricane Cocktail

Believed to be the original Hurricane cocktail recipe from Pat O’Brien’s in New Orleans.

Course Cocktails

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1

Ingredients

• 2 oz light rum
• 2 oz dark rum
• 2 oz passion fruit juice
• 1 oz orange juice
• ½ oz fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoon simple syrup
• 1 tablespoon grenadine
• orange slice and cherry

Instructions

• Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.
• Strain into a Hurricane glass filled with ice.
• Garnish with a cherry and an orange slice.

I hope everyone enjoys a fantastic weekend!