Alexander (cocktail)

Cocktail of cognac, chocolate liqueur and cream

AlexanderIBA official cocktail

Type| Cocktail
Base spirit|

* Brandy

Served| Straight up: chilled, without ice
Standard garnish| nutmeg
Standard drinkware|  Cocktail glass
IBA specified
ingredients†|

* 30 ml cognac
* 30 ml crème de cacao (brown)
* 30 ml fresh cream

Preparation| Pour all ingredients into cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Commonly served| After dinner
† Alexander recipe at International Bartenders Association

The Alexander is a cocktail consisting of cognac, crème de cacao, and cream. It dates from the early 20th century. It was originally made with gin, but the modern version is made with brandy and is called a Brandy Alexander.

## History

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There are at least two drinks from the early 20th century, which were known by the name 'Alexander', but which are nevertheless different drinks. In Jack's Manual on The Vintage & Production, Care & Handling of Wines, Liquors &c. (1910) by Jacob Abraham Grohusko, the 'Alexander Cocktail' is described as three parts rye whiskey, one part Bénédictine, with a piece of ice and a twist of orange peel.[1] In Recipes for Mixed Drinks (1915) by Hugo Ensslin, a drink by the same name is made with equal parts of gin, white crème de cacao and sweet cream, shaken with ice, and strained.

The Alexander was originally made with gin, but the modern version is usually made with brandy and is called a Brandy Alexander.[2] The International Bartenders Association calls for brandy in its Alexander.

## Variations

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The Coffee Alexander substitutes coffee liqueur (such as Kahlúa) for crème de cacao. The Blue Alexander substitutes blue Curaçao for crème de cacao. The Brandy Alexander substitutes gin for some form of brandy, other variations also exist.[3]

## See also

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Drink portal Liquor portal

* List of cocktails
* List of cocktails (alphabetical)
* List of IBA official cocktails

## References

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1. ^ Grohusko, Jacob (1910). Jack's manual on the vintage and production, care and handling of wines, liquors, etc. : a handbook of information for home, club, or hotel : recipes for fancy mixed drinks and when and how to serve. New York: McClunn & Co. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
2. ^ Simon Difford. "Alexander cocktail".
3. ^ "Drinknation.com: Alexander variations". Archived from the original on 2009-05-02. Retrieved 2008-08-11.