The Alexander was invented in the early 20th century by Troy Alexander at Rector's in New York City. The original gin gave way to brandy, resulting in the Alexander #2, aka the Brandy Alexander.

The recipe I'm using calls for a 1:1:1 ratio of brandy, creme de cacao, and cream. You'll also find references to a 2:1:1 ratio which definitely seems like a good thing to try if you want something less sweet.

The nutmeg garnish is important on this one. Try to get a whole nutmeg and grate it on the cocktail. The aroma really enhances the experience.

• 2 oz. Cognac or brandy
• 2 oz. creme de cacao (white or dark)
• 2 oz. heavy cream
• fresh nutmeg

Place Cognac, creme de cacao, and cream in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into a cocktail glass. Grate fresh nutmeg on top as garnish.

Photos by Lisa Denkinger

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Rector's

The lobster palaces of New York

A little history

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Off to Osaka Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/