Brandy Alexander

By Steve Kilcullen Jump to Recipe

Creamy and smooth, the Brandy Alexander is a strong and rich experience.

When I started working on this article, I asked my girlfriend if she’d ever had a Brandy Alexander. I was familiar with the name, having heard it a number of random times over the years. But I had never had one, so I had no real frame of reference. But she did. “You mean the old people drink?” You see, whenever she would hear the name of it, she pictured her grandparents lounging in polyester on paisley furniture covered in plastic. To be fair, that was also my grandparents.

I never thought of the drink that way, though, not whenever the name was brought up. If you look at the history of many a cocktail, they could all potentially be considered “old people drinks”, as many of them were invented decades ago, and some of them over a century. And like a lot of those, the Brandy Alexander has a bit of a contested and convoluted history. This seems to be a trend regarding alcoholic beverages… the history is just a little hazy for some reason.

The Brandy Alexander is actually a riff on the original Alexander cocktail, which was made with gin and first appeared around 1916. During the early 20th century, the switch was made to brandy and the cocktail grew in popularity as a result. In 1929, legendary journalist Walter Winchell claimed the drink was invented by a bartender named Tony Alexander, to celebrate the success of the character Phoebe Snow from a new advertising campaign. The well-known drama critic Alexander Woollcott proclaimed the cocktail was named after him, while others have attributed the drink’s inspiration to Tsar Alexander II of Russia, although this is highly debatable.

Maybe we’ll never know exactly who invented or mixed up the very first Brandy Alexander. Maybe we’re not meant to know. The next time you’re watching a favorite movie, or even classic episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, wherein our beloved main character asks for the cocktail during a job interview, shake up a few for yourself. Unless you’re watching Days of Wine and Roses. If you know, you know.

What is the Best Brandy to Use in a Brandy Alexander?

There is a plethora of brandy brands out there. It can be a little overwhelming, especially if you’re shopping at a well-stocked liquor store. If you’re unfamiliar with the spirit and are just starting to experiment with it, you can always do what I do and pick a mid-to-top shelf bottle of one of the more popular and well-known names.

What kind of glass and garnish is used?

Chill a cocktail glass or coupe in your freezer for up to thirty minutes before making and pouring your drink. Garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg on top.

Why is John Lennon associated with this cocktail?

Lennon became fond of Brandy Alexanders after he was introduced to them by fellow musician Harry Nilsson. In fact, it was during the former Beatle’s infamous “Lost Weekend”, which started in February of 1974 and lasted 18 months, where he imbibed a number of the drinks, calling them “milkshakes”.

Similar Cocktails to the Brandy Alexander

Smooth and creamy, a little sweet and with a lot of punch. Brandy Alexanders can easily become your next favorite cocktail. These “milkshakes”, as John Lennon called them, easily disappear whenever they’re served. If this is the kind of drink you prefer, or if you’ve just been in the mood for something else that’s strong and frothy, Twist & Toast can make your recipe search easy. Check out these concoctions down below and try them out to see which one is your new “go-to” beverage.

• Pink Squirrel – If a creamy treat sounds inviting, this is the cocktail for you.
• Grasshopper – There are no bugs in this chocolatey, delicious and minty dram.
• Key Lime Martini – If you like a slice of Key Lime pie, you’ll love a glass of this dessert-like tipple.
• Orange Creamsicle – The classic summer popsicle, now ready to drink and brighten your day.