Alexander Cocktail
It’s Christmas Eve and if you’ve been following my Instagram feed, you know I’ve been all about the holiday cocktails. Yes, on Insta I’ve been mixing up a bunch of drinks to get you through this festive time of year. While most of the drinks have been Kitchy originals, I’ve been sticking to tradition and whipping up classics on Fridays. So, even though it’s Christmas Eve and you’re trying to finish wrapping all those presents from Santa, there’s still time for another classic, creamy cocktail.
No, it’s not egg nog. Or a Tom & Jerry. Two recipes I make quite often this time of year. But the problem with both of those (although it’s not really a problem) is that they’re batch cocktails. I love big batch drinks when we’re having a party because you can serve a large group of people without tending bar all night. But there are other times when I just want one simple cocktail all to myself. It’s times like these when drinks like today’s Alexander or last week’s Parisian Blonde are the perfect choice.
Now if the Alexander sounds familiar, that’s because I’ve made a Brandy Alexander before. But it turns out the Brandy Alexander is not the original Alexander. Nope, the original, equal parts Alexander can be found in Hugo Ensslin’s Recipes for Mixed Drinks from 1916. But just because that’s the first time the recipe was published doesn’t mean it’s the first time it was enjoyed. According to Difford’s Guide, the Alexander has probably existed since at least 1915. But as with a lot of drinks from this time period, it’s a little murky as to how the cocktail came to be. One thing’s for sure though, over time the recipe has changed… several times.
Like a lot of pre-Prohibition cocktails, the original recipe was equal parts. But over the years, the measurements have changed to create a more well balanced drink. But the measurements aren’t the only thing that’s changed, the main spirit has changed as well. There’s the Alexander the Great which uses vodka instead of gin. The Big Brother uses blue curaçao and triple sec, while the Big Sister substitutes crème de menthe for the crème de cacao. Then there are six more iterations as well. The most well known are the original and the Brandy Alexander, but now that I know about these eight other options, I think I may have to give them a try and report back. There’s even a Christmas version. So, keep an eye on my Insta because that version will definitely be making an appearance before New Year’s.
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 ounces gin
- 1 ounce creme de cacao
- 1 ounce heavy cream
- 1 egg white
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker WITHOUT ice. Shake vigorously for about 5 seconds. Add ice and shake again until chilled.
- Strain into a cocktail glass and serve.
