Episode 108 The Brandy Alexander
Ep. 108: The Brandy Alexander – Velvet in a Glass
Welcome to Season 7 episode 108 of The Art of Drinking with Join Jules and Your Favorite Uncle
Uncle Brad and Jules tackle the luxurious Brandy Alexander – a cocktail so smooth, it practically wears velvet pajamas. This creamy classic may have emerged from the shadow of its lesser-known (but equally delicious) parent cocktail, but it's earned its place as a dessert drink worthy of year-round appreciation.
Uncle Brad starts us off with the traditional Brandy Alexander, made the proper way with cream – because while our friends in Wisconsin might insist on ice cream, we're sticking to the original recipe that put this cocktail on the map. Then Jules shakes things up with her signature Root Beer twist, proving that sometimes the best innovations come from thinking outside the liquor cabinet. Uncle Brad digs into the fascinating origins of this sophisticated sipper and reveals the identity of its mysterious parent cocktail.
Whether you're looking to cap off a dinner party or simply want to treat your taste buds to something special, the Brandy Alexander delivers dessert-level indulgence in liquid form. Just remember: this is a nightcap, not a noon-time refresher... actually, don’t let us dictate policy, enjoy it whenever you’d like.
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🕰️ A Brief Sip of History
The Brandy Alexander made its debut in the early 20th century and is thought to be a riff on an earlier gin-based cocktail simply called the “Alexander.” What made the Brandy version shine? A swap from gin to brandy—bringing warmth, depth, and serious dessert energy.
Some say it was created for a royal wedding. Others say it was named after a New York bartender or even Russian Tsar Alexander. Either way, this drink had a moment—especially in the 1970s when it became the post-dinner drink of choice.
Fun Facts About the Brandy Alexander
It started with gin.
The original Alexander cocktail was made with gin, crème de cacao, and cream. The switch to brandy gave us the version we know and love today.Named after... who exactly?
No one knows for sure! Some theories suggest it was named after:Tsar Alexander II of Russia
A bartender named Troy Alexander in New York
Or simply to sound fancy and masculine
John Lennon was a fan.
He once called the Brandy Alexander his favorite cocktail—and reportedly got very drunk on them during his “Lost Weekend” in LA with Harry Nilsson.It was the dessert drink of the '70s.
The Brandy Alexander had its heyday during the 1970s as the go-to after-dinner cocktail. It was often served in restaurants alongside dessert or in place of one.It appeared in Bridget Jones’s Diary.
When Bridget first meets Mark Darcy at a dinner party, she drinks a Brandy Alexander—further cementing its status as a nostalgic classic.A rare "creamy" classic.
Unlike most pre-Prohibition cocktails, the Brandy Alexander includes cream, which makes it rich, smooth, and almost milkshake-like—definitely in a category of its own.
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