Ingredients
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3 cl of cognac
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3 cl of creme de cacao
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3 cl of fresh cream
Directions
Alexander is one of the most famous, sumptuous and particular cocktails. Let’s start immediately with the ingredients of the Alexander cocktail, which make it one of a kind: cream, dark crème de cacao, cognac and finally, a sprinkling of nutmeg.
That’s right, still a cream-based cocktail, still a great, if not perhaps the greatest of all after-dinners, that is, those cocktails that are perfect for after dinner, let’s say for meditation.
But don’t think it’s a bland or flat or fatty or redundant cocktail. Its particular sweet and enveloping blend is perfectly softened and balanced by nutmeg, which adds a delicious spicy touch, making the cocktail unique and always very drinkable.
When served chilled, the Alexander is a cocktail that does not fear the seasons and is also suitable as an aperitif, especially on festive tables. So this Christmas, why not start the family lunch with a good glass of Alexander? You will make a great impression and in the meantime, you will warm up the atmosphere!
Also, try a mixture of cinnamon and nutmeg. If you want to experiment, try the original Alexander recipe, made with gin, always delightful and with a refined woody aftertaste or the variant with dark rum. Give it a try and something good will always come out! But be careful not to get confused: the IBA recipe is with cognac, but the first is based on gin.
History of the Alexander cocktail
In reality, nothing is known for sure. The original recipe included gin suggested it came from England, but many believe that it was invented by an elusive New York bartender named Alexander shortly before Prohibition broke out. The first written recipe appears in Hugo Ensslin’s book, Recipes for Mixed Drinks, although it is not mentioned by this name.
Alexander cocktail ingredients and doses
3 cl of cognac (or gin if you want the original)
3 cl of fresh cream
3 cl of crème de cacao
How to make the Alexander cocktail
As you have seen, the cocktail plays a lot on the balance of ingredients, present in equal parts, but if you want a less sweet and leaner cocktail, you can add just 2 cl of crème de cacao.
Cool a cup or glass with ice.
Fill a shaker with more ice.
Pour all the ingredients into the shaker and shake for 15 seconds.
Fill the glass with the cocktail and grate a little nutmeg onto the surface of the drink.
That’s enough, but the result will never cease to amaze you with the pleasant complexity of the cocktail.
You can also try to make a more informal Alexander, in the cup, by lengthening the doses and substituting with coconut milk and adding star anise.
If you want to taste other unforgettable gin-based cocktails
Gin Tonic, Paradise, Tom Collins, Heidi, Bramble, Negroni, Gin Fizz, French 75, Tuxedo, Dry Martini