A decadent, sweet, and timeless dessert cocktail known as Brandy Alexander has delighted drinkers for over 100 years, and it seems it hasn't lost its allure.
The creamy, frothy texture from the heavy cream mixed with cognac and creme de cacao is something every cocktail lover should at least have tried once. Don't let yourself get tricked by the sweet chocolate taste. This cocktail definitely has some booze.
Now, let's find out more about this popular brandy cocktail - first and foremost, how to mix it to perfection.
For the perfect Brandy Alexander Cocktail, you need as little as three ingredients and some grated nutmeg for garnish. If you're unsure what to buy, here are our recommendations:
Also, remember to cool your glass in the freezer or with some ice cubes before mixing and pouring the drink. Since you serve it straight up, all elements should be chilled, including the glass.
A great Brandy Alexander has an intense and distinct taste of chocolate from the creme de cacao. The cream enhances the flavor and also emphasizes the sweetness of the drink.
When accompanied by just the right amount of brandy, you can also taste subtle notes of fruits. So, mixing it is all about balancing the ingredients to get the right taste. You definitely don't want your cocktail to be overly sweet.
Adding grated nutmeg to the drink will make it look prettier and add some spice to your cocktail. Nutmeg really is a perfect match for the mix of Cognac and dark Creme de Cacao.
Overall, the Brandy Alexander cocktail is not exactly what we can call light, neither in calories nor alcohol. What it is, is a beautiful drink and one of the most popular brandy cocktails.
Inherently, you can drink a Brandy Alexander anytime you want. However, it makes a perfect alternative to a classic chocolaty dessert.
The sweet and chocolatey taste works particularly well after dinner. The sweetness is well-balanced and not too heavy.
If you want to take the approach as a dessert one step further, consider serving it with some fruits, nuts, or light pastries.
Who invented the Brandy Alexander is unclear. What is known is that this Brandy cocktail is a riff on the Alexander cocktail made with gin.
This gin-based Alexander version was first mentioned in Hugo Ensslin's cocktail book Recipes for Mixed Drinks, published in 1917. Already back then, it was a great drink, but replacing gin with brandy lifted this concoction to new heights.
Especially in the 70s and 80s, the cocktail was all over the place. -A sweet, delicious, easy-to-make cocktail and a total crowd-pleaser.
The Brandy Alexander is not the only dessert drink worth trying. If you want to try some other sweet drinks, how about these:
Hearing the name Americano Cocktail, some immediately draw a connection to the Americano coffee. However, the classic Americano cocktail couldn't be farther away from that.
Instead, it is a traditional aperitif cocktail based on Campari -and one that James Bond frequently orders in the books and movies - besides the famous Martini.
Quick Facts Americano Cocktail
Unlike the Vesper Cocktail, invented by the author of the Bond novels, the classic Americano cocktail existed long before that.
As with every cocktail relying on three ingredients only, quality is essential. If you don't have your favorites yet, here are our recommendations:
The drink is super easy to make, and you don't need special tools as you build it directly in the glass. A long bar spoon is enough.
What can lift your drink to the next level, though, is quality ice: Large, clear ice cubes that keep your drink ice cold without watering it down. Fill up your glass with plenty of crystal-clear ice for the perfect Americano.
You also want to store all ingredients in the fridge before mixing. Since you do not shake or stir them with ice to cool and combine them, you should absolutely keep that in mind.
A bit stronger than a beer, lighter than your average cocktail. The ABV of a classic Americano cocktail is around 9% to 13% ABV or 18 to 26 proof, similar to wine.
With this relatively low alcohol content, the drink is a beautiful and refreshing summer cocktail. If you should be in the mood for a boozier alternative, the classic Negroni has around 24% ABV.
The difference between the two drinks is the clear component - soda on the one hand and gin on the other. That makes the Negroni a lot more potent and also drier & more bitter.
Many think the Americano is a softer variation of a Negroni. Easier to drink, less boozy, and therefore a better fit for hot summer days.
However, in fact, it is the other way around: the Americano is the forerunner of the classic Negroni. -And frankly, we think both are perfect for hot summer days.
The very first time the Americano cocktail got served was in Gaspare Campari's bar Camparino in Galleria in Milan. There, also the birthplace of the Campari liqueur, this riff on the Milano-Torino has been created.
A Milano-Torino is a simple mixed drink made with only Vermouth and Campari. And to make this cocktail more sippable and refreshing, Gaspare added just a splash of soda water.
This lighter version was allegedly especially popular with American tourists, hence the name: Americano Cocktail.
If you look for more light, sparkly summer drinks, try some of these recipes:
When you think about mixed drinks, Brandy cocktails might not be the first thing that comes to mind. That's mainly because the term is somewhat unclear and vague.
Yet, once you realize that a premium spirit like Cognac is a type of Brandy, you will find that Brandy Cocktails can actually be pretty delicious and even elegant.
There are plenty of good and classic Brandy cocktail recipes out there. Our selection below is limited to our 12 favorites.
This boozy dessert drink is one of the most famous Brandy cocktails. A simple mix of white creme de cacao, heavy cream, and Cognac will create a delicious creamy drink.
The Brandy Old Fashioned is a brilliant twist on the classic Old Fashioned Recipe. All you need is a good Brandy, sugar, Angostura bitters, and some lemon-lime soda.
The Brandy Crusta is a gorgeous drink and one of the most special Brandy cocktails out there.
The beautiful mix of Maraschino Liqueur, Brandy, Curaçao, and Angostura bitters make it a real crowd-pleaser.
The Sazerac is a classic vintage boozy cocktail recipe that is more for experienced drinkers:
A solid mix of Brandy, Whiskey, Absinthe, and Peychaud's bitters topped off with a bit of sugar.
The Vieux Carré is another intense and traditional cocktail classic based on Brandy.
Originating from the French Quarter in New Orleans, this cocktail contains Cognac, Rye Whiskey, Sweet Vermouth, D.O.M. Bénédictine, and cocktail bitters.
I love a good Pisco Sour. And honestly, the best ones I had were in South America.
Saying this, it's not too hard to make the drink at home. All you need is a good Pisco, lemon juice, syrup, egg white, and some Angostura bitters.
This one is very close to a classic Manhattan cocktail. It is easy to make, and the number of ingredients is small: Brandy mixed with Sweet Vermouth, sugar, and some cocktail bitters. That's it.
Typically made with Cognac, a Sidecar cocktail also works with other types of Brandy. The combination of Cognac, lemon juice, and Cointreau is citrusy and complex.
It beautifully balances the sourness with sweet notes, creating a very intense, dry, and rich cocktail.
This Flip Cocktail is a rich combination of Cognac, sweet Tawny port wine, a dash of Simple syrup, and one whole organic egg.
There are not many cocktails that include the yolk as well as the egg white. So this is quite an extraordinary drinking experience. - It works perfectly, though.
A Brandy cocktail created to cure the Hangover of soldiers. It is a spicy mix of Cognac, Dry Gin, lime cordial, Fresh lime juice, Angostura bitters, and a healthy portion of Ginger beer.
This drink was named after the famous 1970s movie with the same title: French Connection. It is a simple yet brilliant and complex mix of Cognac and Amaretto.
This blend is a riff on the classic Sidecar Cocktail. Instead of the 1.5oz Cognac, you make a split base of equal amounts of unaged Rum and Cognac.
Also, if you want to get an overview of all our recipes for cocktails made with Brandy, click here: