The glitzy Brandy Alexander recipe hails from the 1920s Great Gatsby era and became the coolest cocktail of the 1970s when Beatles fans discovered it was John Lennon’s favorite drink. Glamorous, romantic and oh-so-sweet, the Brandy Alexander cocktail brings a delicious mix of brandy and chocolate liqueur to the party, with the indulgent addition of cream for an extra smooth and silky texture. This boozy dessert cocktail is ideal for those who always crave an after-dinner sweet.
Brandy Alexander Recipe
PREP TIME 5 min
QUICK TIPS
INSTRUCTIONS
01
1.
Fill a shaker or mason jar with ice
02
2.
Add the cognac and chocolate liqueur, and shake until well-chilled
03
3.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, such as a martini glass or coupe
04
4.
Garnish with a pinch of nutmeg and cinnamon, if you like
Brandy Alexander variations
With so many kinds of brandy around, mix it up and experiment a little until you find your perfect serve. We love a Bisquit & Dubouché for its warm cinnamon oaky notes. For apple brandy cocktails that give cozy apple pie vibes, try calvados, which is a French brandy made with apples, or choose an aged cognac for a deeper flavor profile. To really dial up the indulgence, swap the cream for ice cream for a boozy milkshake version of the Brandy Alexander.
When to serve a Brandy Alexander cocktails
Our brilliant Brandy Alexander recipe is a delicious treat to serve at Gatsby-themed parties —think girls in sequined flapper dresses and guys in pinstripes —or at your totally groovy 1960s party and Beatles-themed parties alike.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Brandy is a very versatile drink to mix with a whole variety of things. Aficionados drink it straight or on the rocks to experience the full aromas from distillation. Brandy is popularly paired with cream and coffee liqueurs for rich dessert-like combinations. Speaking to the sweet and sour palettes, brandy also partners deliciously with ginger ale or beer, lemonade, tea and orange juice or bitters. Let’s not forget apple, as there are many Apple Brandy Cocktails worth trying.
Brandy Alexander Cocktail Ingredients are simple and satisfying. Originally a gin-based cocktail, however evolving over the century into a brandy-based drink that’s enriched with chocolate liqueur and cream and chilled over ice. A sprinkle of cinnamon and nutmeg adds the finishing touch.
The Brandy Alexander cocktail is a smooth and silky drink with creamy chocolate ice cream notes, thanks to the cocoa liqueur that works to enhance the delicious combination of brandy and cream. A spicy sprinkling of cinnamon and nutmeg perfectly rounds things off, making this drink a favorite on the After Dinner Cocktails list.
Brandy can be enjoyed straight from the bottle without needing to breathe. Drink a top shelf brandy neat or on the rocks over ice depending on its age to savor all the richness brandy has to offer. To bring out the best of the aged, barrel-fermented fruity flavors, brandy aficionados recommend warming the glass in the palm of one’s hand. The heat of the hand will release the aromas, so swirl and sip slowly to enjoy at its best.
For a decadent boozy milkshake, pimp a Brandy Alexander with ice cream in place of the original cream. All you need is a blender - simply blitz the ice cream briefly to soften it slightly before adding the rest of the Brandy Alexander Cocktail Ingredients. Cheers!
For this luxurious cocktail, you need a cream that blends easily into the brandy and chocolate liqueur without stirring. Avoid a thicker heavy cream (identifiable by a high fat content of above 36%) that requires a spoon for scooping. For the best serve, choose a light cream with a fat content of 5-18% and combine it with a slightly richer cream at 18-30%. Whipping cream typically has 30-36% fat content, which is the most luxurious choice that can still achieve the desired swirling effect.
