Brandy Alexander

Brandy Alexander is an elevated version of the classic gin-based Alexander cocktail, and it was originally called Alexander #2. The cocktail is made with a combination of cognac, cream, and crème de cacao. The ingredients are shaken and strained into a cocktail glass, which is then garnished with freshly ground nutmeg.

One of the first recipes for this cocktail can be found in Hugo Ensslin’s Recipes for Mixed Drinks, from 1916. It is believed that the cocktail was invented at Rector’s in New York, by a bartender Troy Alexander. In pop culture, Brandy Alexander is known as the favorite drink of John Lennon, while in the movie Days of Wine and Roses, it is a cocktail that starts one of the main characters’ descent into alcoholism.