We get it. It’s November, and it’s freezing (where we are, at least!) When you want to enjoy your fa...
The Story of the Alexander Cocktail
Jump to
The classic cocktail, the Alexander, is one of those drinks that has evolved over the years. The original recipe called for egg white – but not too much. And the spirit of choice has changed a few times too. The version you’ll find on Make Me a Cocktail includes gin, like the original, with equal measures of crème de cacao and cream.
Who Invented the Alexander?
The exact date of the creation of this cocktail is unknown, but it was certainly invented before 1915. One explanation suggests that the drink was named after bartender Troy Alexander, who worked at Rector’s restaurant in New York. He created the cocktail in honour of Pheobe Snow, a fictional character who was the theme of an event one evening.
Some think that the drink was made for the 1915 World Series. The head bartender of the Racquet Club made it for Boston pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander.
The Evolution of the Alexander
The original recipe for the Alexander was around for quite some time before variations of the drink started to become popular. The Brandy Alexander came around about twenty years later and simply replaced brandy for gin, giving the drink a sharper edge.
The proportions of each ingredient changed depending on which cocktail book you
found, with some versions requiring half the drink to be brandy, with a quarter
each of cream and cacao. Other versions went for equal parts brandy and cream,
with half a part of cacao.
However you choose to enjoy the Brandy Alexander, it is now arguably more popular than the
original drink.
Pardon the interruption
Did you know that you can become a member for free, taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. You can save your My Bar ingredients, make tasting notes, have personalised Tried and Want to try lists and more.
Other Variations
This is one of those cocktails that has so many variations it's hard to keep up! Try an Alexander the Great, a version that uses vodka instead of gin and replaces half the cacao with coffee liqueur. Or you might like a Cherry Alexander, which uses a combination of vanilla vodka and cherry brandy.
A Blue Alexander prefers Blue Bols to crème de cacao, while a Christmas Alexander includes a touch of almond milk. An Irish Alexander uses Irish cream instead of cacao, garnished with a sprinkled flake, while Alexanders’ Sister includes crème de menthe and sugar syrup, and brings back that original egg white.
There are so many different variations, in fact, that we could easily write a whole other
blog post. Why not try a few of your own, bringing in your favourite spirits or
mixers and finding your own signature Alexander?
More to explore
Cocktail shaking is an art that goes beyond a simple act of mixing ingredients. It's a fundamental s...
Imagine stepping into a dimly lit, cozy bar, the clinking of glasses and laughter filling the air. T...
Bartender's top tip
Related posts
Famous Olympic Moments and the Cocktails to Celebrate Them
The Olympics have provided us with countless incredible moments throughout history. From record-breaking athletic feats to inspiring stories of perseverance, the Games have always been a source of joy... read more
How to Pick a Cocktail Glass
Since the bars have been closed for some time now, we have all had to become amateur mixologists, creating wonderful cocktail concoctions in the safety of our own kitchen. You might have all the ingre... read more
The Definitive Guide to Mastering the Iconic Whiskey Sour Cocktail
Ah, the Whiskey Sour – a timeless classic that has graced bars and cocktail lounges for over 150 years. This iconic drink is a perfect balance of sweet, tart, and boozy flavors, making it a crowd-plea... read more
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Get tips straight into your inbox.
Upgrade your mixology
Become a member for free taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11.
- Save your bar forever
- Access to our Cocktail Creator, allowing you to create your own wonderful concoctions.
- Save cocktails to personalised 'Tried' and 'Want to try' lists
- Create and record tasting notes on cocktails
- Create lists of cocktails to share with friends and family
- A pesonalised MyBar URL, allowing you to share everything you can make with friends
- And much more ... (what to buy next, measurement choices, search personalisation...)
Olympic Cocktails and More
Discover a host of cocktails inspired by the Paris 2024 Olympics, meet the bartenders behind the cocktails and win yourself some juicy Amazon vouchers.
Our Olympic Cocktail Hub