Brandy/Cognac · Classic · Sweet
Brandy Alexander Recipe
A dessert in a coupe glass — cognac, chocolate, and cream in equal, easy balance.
- Prep Time
- 1.5 min
- Method
- Shaken
- Glass
- Chilled coupe
- Strength
- Balanced
Every recipe on Sipped Right is tested for taste and balance before it's published.
Last updated September 14, 2026
About the Brandy Alexander
The story most often told places the Brandy Alexander at a 1922 London society wedding — Princess Mary and Viscount Lascelles — though, like most drinks from that era, the exact night is impossible to pin down with certainty. What's better documented is its lineage: an earlier "Alexander" already existed, built on gin rather than cognac, and the two versions were poured side by side for years before the richer cognac recipe became the one everyone remembers. By mid-century it had earned a permanent seat on the IBA's official "Unforgettables" list — the kind of drink that outlasts the trends around it. A hundred years on, it's less something you order to be seen with and more something you make for yourself on a quiet night, which might be the better legacy of the two.
Ingredients
- Cognac1 oz
- Dark crème de cacao1 oz
- Heavy cream1 oz
- Freshly grated nutmegFor garnish
Method
- Chill a coupe glass.
- Measure and pour the cognac, dark crème de cacao and heavy cream into the shaker.
- Add a scoop of ice to the shaker.
- Shake for 15 seconds.
- Strain the cocktail into the chilled coupe.
- Grate nutmeg over the top.
Glass & Garnish
Chilled coupe, no ice. Garnish: freshly grated nutmeg, dusted on right before serving — it cuts through the cocoa so the drink doesn't taste one-note sweet.
Notes
White crème de cacao gives a paler pour with the same flavor. Half-and-half works for a lighter version. Not a batching cocktail — shake to order. Pairs with dark chocolate or plain shortbread.
Tools Used
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