Holidays demand a special drink. Something classic to sip while a fire roars and snow dusts the ground. But no matter the weather or celebration, one luxurious drink makes an evening at home seem like a night at your favorite restaurant or bar. There is a classic cocktail custom-made for the winter holidays—the impressive Brandy Alexander.
The Brandy Alexander is now over 100 years old. The earliest known recipe for the chocolaty and creamy cocktail comes from Recipes for Mixed Drinks, written in 1916 by bartender Hugo Ensslin. At least one historian claims that the cocktail was birthed at the opulently lavish Rector’s in New York in the years leading to Prohibition. The creator? A bartender named Troy Alexander.
Whether you celebrate by firelight, moonlight, or nightlight, the Brandy Alexander delivers smooth enjoyment and a subtle finish. Do not be deceived by its wintry good looks. A well-made Brandy Alexander stands up to the winter chill and an evening of auld lang syne.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces of cognac
- 1 ounce of dark creme de cacao
- 1 ounce of cream
- Garnish: grated nutmeg
Preparation
Add cognac, dark creme de cacao, and cream into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.
Strain into a chilled coupe or cocktail glass. Grate fresh nutmeg as a garnish.
