Editing Brandy Alexander

{{short description|Brandy-based cocktail of cognac and crème de cacao}}
{{Other uses|Brandy Alexander (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox cocktail
| iba         = No
| source      =
| sourcelink  = alexander
| name        = Alexander
| image       = Brandy_alexander.jpg
| caption     =
| type        = cocktail
| flaming     =
| brandy = yes
| served      = straight
| garnish     = Sprinkle fresh ground [[nutmeg]] on top.
| drinkware   = cocktail
| ingredients = *30&nbsp;ml [[Cognac (drink)|Cognac]]
*30&nbsp;ml [[Crème de cacao]] (brown) 
*30&nbsp;ml fresh cream
| prep        = Pour all ingredients into cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
| notes       =
| footnotes   =
}}
A '''Brandy Alexander''' is a [[brandy]]-based dessert cocktail,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Experience the Taste of Classic Style With 20 Timeless Cocktails |url=https://www.thespruceeats.com/classic-cocktails-you-must-try-759886 |website=The Spruce Eats}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=17 Delicious Cocktails That Let You Drink Dessert |url=https://www.thespruceeats.com/delicious-dessert-cocktail-recipes-4153407 |website=The Spruce Eats}}</ref> consisting of [[Cognac (drink)|cognac]], [[crème de cacao]], and cream, that became popular during the early 20th century.<ref>''Imbibe Magazine'', May/June 2010, p. 38</ref> It is a variation of an earlier, gin-based cocktail called simply an [[Alexander (cocktail)|Alexander]]. The cocktail known as Alexander today may contain [[gin]] or [[brandy]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Unforgettables &#124; International Bartenders Association |url=https://iba-world.com/iba-cocktails/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170309093042/http://iba-world.com/iba-cocktails/ |archive-date=9 March 2017 |access-date=26 February 2021}}</ref> Ice cream can be added for a "frozen Brandy Alexander".<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1IPdtz40iXUC&dq=frozen+brandy+alexander&pg=PT38 |title=Buller's Professional Course in Bartending For Home Study |date=16 September 1983 |publisher=Harvard Common Press|isbn=9780916782337 }}</ref>

== History ==
There are many rumours about the origins of the cocktail. Some sources say it was created at the time of the London wedding of [[Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood|Princess Mary]] and [[Henry Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood|Viscount Lascelles]] in 1922.<ref>Classic Cocktail Club, Milan, Italy.</ref> Drama critic and [[Algonquin Round Table]] member [[Alexander Woollcott]] said it was named after him. Other sources say it was named after the Russian tsar [[Alexander II of Russia|Alexander II]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Brandy Alexander day |url=http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2013/01/31/national-brandy-alexander-day/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020183229/http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2013/01/31/national-brandy-alexander-day/ |archive-date=20 October 2014 |access-date=20 October 2014 |publisher=eatocracy}}</ref>

The drink was possibly named after Troy Alexander, a bartender at [[George Rector|Rector's]], a New York City restaurant, who created the drink in order to serve a white drink at a dinner celebrating [[Phoebe Snow (character)|Phoebe Snow]], a character in a popular advertising campaign in the early 20th century.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Behind the Drink: The Brandy Alexander |url=http://liquor.com/articles/behind-the-drink-the-brandy-alexander/# |access-date=20 October 2014 |publisher=Liquor.com}}</ref>

[[John Lennon]] was introduced to it on March 12, 1974, by [[Harry Nilsson]], on Lennon's so-called "lost weekend". The pair began heckling the [[Smothers Brothers]], and whilst being ejected Lennon allegedly assaulted a waitress.<ref>{{Cite web |title=When John Lennon and Harry Nilsson Got Tossed From the Troubadour for Heckling |url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/john-lennon-harry-nilsson-troubadour/ |access-date=29 July 2018 |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |date=12 March 2015 |language=en}}</ref> Lennon later said the drinks "tasted like [[milkshake]]s".<ref>{{Cite news |title=The John Lennon we did not know |language=en-US |work=TODAY.com |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/john-lennon-we-did-not-know-wbna19418319 |access-date=29 July 2018}}</ref>

==In film and television==
[[File:Brandy_Alexander_on_the_Rocks.jpg|thumb|A Brandy Alexander served on the rocks]]
In the 1962 film ''[[Days of Wine and Roses (film)|Days of Wine and Roses]]'', alcoholic Joe Clay, played by [[Jack Lemmon]], takes Kirsten Arnesen, played by [[Lee Remick]], out on a date. When she explains that she dislikes liquor but likes chocolate, he orders her a Brandy Alexander. This begins Kirsten's descent into alcoholism.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Aftab |first=Kaleem |date=20 March 2009 |title=The movie cocktail – what's your poison tonight? |language=en-GB |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/the-movie-cocktail-whats-your-poison-tonight-1649249.html |access-date=29 July 2018}}</ref>

In the 1970 [[Television pilot|pilot]] of the television series, ''[[The Mary Tyler Moore Show]]'', the namesake character adds to a running gag by asking for a Brandy Alexander during a job interview.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Lanee |date=2020-07-29 |title=Drink in History: The Brandy Alexander |url=https://chilledmagazine.com/drink-in-history-the-brandy-alexander/ |access-date=2024-01-26 |website=Chilled Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>

In the 1981 film ''[[Tattoo (1981 film)|Tattoo]]'', [[Bruce Dern]] takes [[Maud Adams]] out for dinner and orders a Brandy Alexander. When she comments that he does not look the Brandy Alexander type, he replies, "I like the foam...it reminds me of the ocean."<ref>{{Citation |title=Tattoo (1981) – Quotes |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083178/quotes/qt4069005 |access-date=29 July 2018}}</ref>

In the 1981 television adaptation of ''Brideshead Revisited'' ([[Brandy Alexander#In print|discussed below]]), Anthony Blanche ([[Nickolas Grace]]) takes Charles Ryder ([[Jeremy Irons]]) out for drinks, ordering four Brandy Alexanders for the two of them: "I expect you would prefer sherry, but my dear Charles, you're not going to have sherry tonight. You're going to try this delicious concoction instead." When Charles reacts hesitantly to his first sip, Anthony proceeds to drink all four cocktails in rapid succession.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=FYiUxP1S87xfdnx0&v=aj6XAFMWPYE&feature=youtu.be |title=Brideshead Revisited - Brandy Alexanders |date=2011-12-03 |last=MundusVultDecipi0000 |access-date=2025-01-20 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

In the 2008 [[James Gray (film director)|James Gray]] movie ''[[Two Lovers (2008 film)|Two Lovers]]'', Michelle ([[Gwyneth Paltrow]]) tells Leonard ([[Joaquin Phoenix]]) she drinks Brandy Alexanders with her boyfriend Ronald, a rich lawyer. Leonard orders one at a restaurant to impress her, but ruins the effect by mistaking the stirrer for a straw.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mason |first=Ian Garrick |date=27 April 2009 |title=Magnetic Suns and Moth Balls: An essay on James Gray's Two Lovers |url=https://www.iangarrickmason.com/film-two-lovers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430030251/https://www.iangarrickmason.com/film-two-lovers |archive-date=30 April 2017 |access-date=29 July 2018 |publisher=iangarrickmason.com}}</ref>

==In print==
The character Brandy Alexander in the novel ''[[Invisible Monsters]]'' by [[Chuck Palahniuk]] is named after the drink.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 March 1974 |title=The Rockford Files |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071042/ |via=IMDb}}</ref>

[[Anthony Blanche]] orders four "Alexandra cocktails" in [[Evelyn Waugh]]'s novel ''[[Brideshead Revisited]]''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Waugh |first=Evelyn |title=Brideshead Revisited |year=1962 |isbn=9780140008210 |page=48 |chapter=2 |orig-year=1945 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/bridesheadrevisi0000waug_y3b8/page/48/mode/1up}}</ref> [[Christian Kracht]] repeats the four Brandy Alexanders motif in his 1995 novel ''[[Faserland]]''.<ref>''[[Faserland]]'' (1995) chapter 7</ref>
 
In Kurt Vonnegut's book, ''[[Mother Night]]'', the protagonist suspects that an overly flattering article in the ''[[New York Herald Tribune|Herald Tribune]]'' about his neighbor was "written by a pansy full of Brandy Alexanders."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Vonnegut |first=Kurt |title=Mother Night |page=50}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of cocktails]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Brandy Alexander}}
{{Wikibooks|Bartending|Cocktails/Alexander|Brandy Alexander}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150307020340/http://www.iba-world.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88&Itemid=532 IBA Official Cocktails]

{{IBACocktails}}

[[Category:Cocktails with brandy]]
[[Category:Cocktails with chocolate liqueur]]
[[Category:Cocktails with ice cream]]
[[Category:Creamy cocktails]]
[[Category:Three-ingredient cocktails]]