Brandy Alexander

The Brandy Alexander is the ultimate after-dinner cocktail and one of history's most elegant dessert drinks. Created in the early 1900s (possibly for King Edward VII or celebrating pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander), this creamy cocktail combines cognac, dark crème de cacao, and heavy cream to create a liquid chocolate-brandy dessert. Shaken with ice and served in a chilled coupe glass with nutmeg garnish, the Brandy Alexander represents post-dinner sophistication, classic American cocktail culture, and the tradition of creamy cocktails. The drink embodies early 20th-century elegance, the golden age of after-dinner drinks, and the sophistication of dessert cocktails. The Brandy Alexander was enormously popular from the 1920s-1960s, declining with the shift away from sweet cocktails, then experiencing renewed craft cocktail interest. The combination of cognac richness, chocolate liqueur, and cream creates luxurious, dessert-like drinking. The cocktail demands quality ingredients: good VS or VSOP cognac, quality dark crème de cacao (not cheap chocolate liqueur), heavy cream, and fresh nutmeg. Variations include the Alexander (gin instead of brandy) and the Grasshopper (crème de menthe replacing cognac). The drink represents the golden age of creamy cocktails, after-dinner drinking traditions, and cocktail elegance. Whether served at a classic steakhouse or a craft cocktail bar, the Brandy Alexander delivers creamy sophistication.