Alexander Cocktail Recipe
Cognac, brown crème de cacao and cream in equal parts — a dessert in a glass, dusted with nutmeg.
- Category: The Unforgettables
- Glass: Coupe glass
- ABV: 21%
- Difficulty: Easy
- Prep time: ~3 min
Ingredients
- Cognac30 ml (1 oz)
- Crème de cacao (brown)30 ml (1 oz)
- Fresh cream30 ml (1 oz)
How to Make It
- Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
- Shake hard until the outside frosts.
- Double-strain into a chilled coupe.
- Grate nutmeg over the surface.
Garnish
Grated nutmeg
What it tastes like
The sweetness is pronounced and the texture is creamy.
The technique
Shaking. Anything with juice, syrup, egg white or cream gets shaken: the shaker chills the drink and adds roughly 20% water, and that water is what takes the edge off. Twelve to fifteen seconds, until the tin frosts over. Under-shaking leaves the drink harsh because it never got enough dilution.
Glass and ice
A stemmed, shallow coupe. The stem keeps your hand's warmth away from the drink, and the wide bowl carries the aroma to your nose. Served without ice.
Ingredient notes and substitutes
- Cognac
- Brandy distilled from grapes in the Cognac region of France. VS is young and lively, VSOP rounder; in a cocktail VS is plenty, since VSOP's finesse disappears in the mix.
- Fresh cream
- Cream will curdle when it meets citrus juice; to avoid it, add the cream last and shake straight away.
The Story
Popularised in London in the 1920s and long served after dinner; the gin version came first, but cognac is what the IBA fixed.
Frequently asked questions
- How is a Alexander mixed?
- It is shaken and served in a coupe.
- How strong is a Alexander?
- Roughly 21% ABV as served — in fortified-wine territory — plan it as a single drink.
- Can a Alexander be made without alcohol?
- Simply leaving the spirit out does not work — the body and the bitterness go with it. The 86 alcohol-free recipes in the catalogue are built to hit that balance from the start.
- Is a Alexander hard to make?
- Easy. No bar kit required — a measure, ice and a jar will do.
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Alcoholic drink recipes are intended for those aged 18 and over. Please drink responsibly.