This brandy alexander recipe is a timeless classic that’s smooth, creamy, and tastes like dessert in a glass! With just three simple ingredients shaken together with ice and topped with a dusting of fresh nutmeg, this cocktail is rich, indulgent, and incredibly satisfying. Use a good quality brandy (Korbel is a Wisconsin favorite!) and you’ll have an amazing cocktail in just a few minutes.
My husband and I have been home bartending for over 15 years, and I’ve developed more than 40 cocktail recipes for this website. The brandy alexander holds a special place in our collection because it’s another one of those classic Wisconsin cocktails. Like our brandy old fashioneds and brandy slush, this showcases Wisconsin’s deep love affair with brandy. And like our pink squirrel cocktail, it’s a supper club staple that’s been served for decades!
This is the shaken version of the brandy alexander, which is lighter and more cocktail-forward compared to the ice cream version (which we’ll be sharing separately!). The shaken version has a silky smooth texture and rich chocolate-vanilla flavor that makes it an excellent after-dinner drink. If you love creamy, dessert-style cocktails, this one’s for you!
You’ll Love This Brandy Alexander Recipe!
Dessert in a glass. This rich and creamy cocktail is sometimes compared to an adult chocolate milkshake, making it an ideal after-dinner drink or dessert replacement.
3 ingredients. Brandy, dark creme de cacao, and heavy cream are all you need to make this indulgent dessert cocktail (plus ice and nutmeg for garnish!).
Easy to make. Just shake everything together with ice and strain into a glass. No special techniques or complicated steps required.
Ingredients for Brandy Alexander Cocktail
- Ice. Needed for shaking and chilling the cocktail.
- Brandy. The base spirit that gives this cocktail its name and smooth, warming flavor (Korbel is the Wisconsin favorite, though Cognac is another popular choice).
- Dark creme de cacao. A chocolate liqueur that adds rich, sweet chocolate flavor to the drink.
- Heavy cream. Creates the signature creamy, velvety texture that makes this cocktail so indulgent.
- Freshly grated nutmeg for garnish. Adds a warm, aromatic finish that complements the chocolate and cream.
You’ll find complete ingredient measurements and all recipe details in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Helpful Equipment
You’ll need a jigger for measuring your ingredients accurately and a cocktail shaker for mixing. A coupe glass or martini glass is traditional for serving, and a fine microplane grater (the same size you’d use for zesting citrus) for the fresh nutmeg garnish.
How to Make a Brandy Alexander
Add ingredients to shaker. Pour the brandy, dark creme de cacao, and heavy cream into a cocktail shaker that’s filled with ice.
Cap and shake vigorously. Cap the shaker tightly and shake hard for about 15 seconds, until the outside of the shaker is very cold and the mixture is well-chilled and frothy.
Strain into glass. Strain the cocktail into a chilled coupe glass or martini glass.
Garnish and serve. Grate fresh nutmeg over the top and serve immediately.
Brandy Alexander Drink Variations
- Adjust the creaminess. This is a pretty boozy cocktail. If you’d prefer it creamier and less strong, increase the heavy cream to 1.5 or 2 ounces.
- Try different spirits. The original “Alexander” cocktail was made with gin, which gives a botanical twist. You can also use rum for a different flavor profile.
- Make it with cognac. Use cognac instead of brandy for a more refined, complex flavor (though it will be pricier!).
- Add coffee liqueur. Substitute half the creme de cacao with coffee liqueur like Kahlua for a mocha twist.
Expert Tips for Making Brandy Alexander Cocktails
Shake it well with plenty of ice. Fill your shaker with ice before adding the ingredients, then shake vigorously for about 15 seconds. The ice chills the drink quickly, provides the right amount of dilution to balance the alcohol, and helps create that signature frothy texture as the cream emulsifies.
Chill your glass. Pop your serving glass in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes before making the drink for a real cocktail lounge experience!. A cold glass keeps the cocktail chilled longer and looks fancy.
Use freshly grated nutmeg. Pre-ground nutmeg doesn’t have the same aromatic quality as freshly grated. It only takes a few seconds to grate fresh nutmeg over the top and makes a big difference!
Brandy Alexander Cocktail Recipe FAQs
A brandy alexander tastes like a rich, creamy dessert! It has smooth chocolate flavor from the creme de cacao, warmth from the brandy, and a velvety texture from the cream. The freshly grated nutmeg on top adds a subtle spice that ties everything together. Think of it as a fancier, grown-up chocolate milkshake!
The shaken version (this recipe) is lighter and more cocktail-forward, made with heavy cream and shaken with ice. The ice cream version is blended with vanilla ice cream, making it thicker and more like a boozy milkshake. Both are delicious, but the shaken version is more traditional and elegant.
You could try using full-fat coconut cream or cashew cream in place of the heavy cream, but it will change the flavor slightly. The richness of heavy cream is really part of what makes this cocktail so special, so I’d recommend sticking with dairy if possible.
Traditionally, brandy alexanders are served in a coupe glass or martini glass. The elegant presentation really suits this classic cocktail! Make sure to chill your glass beforehand for the best experience.
Love This Recipe? Try One of These Dessert Cocktails Next!
Shaken Brandy Alexander Cocktail
Equipment
- Coupe or Martini Glass (chilled in the freezer for 10-15 minutes prior if desired)
Ingredients
- ice for shaking
- 1.5 ounces brandy (Korbel preferred)
- 1 ounce dark creme de cacao
- 1 ounce heavy cream
- whole nutmeg, freshly grated for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice then pour the brandy, dark creme de cacao, and heavy cream into the cocktail shaker.
- Cap the shaker tightly and shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is very cold (about 15 seconds), until the mixture is well-chilled and frothy.
- Strain the cocktail into a coupe glass or martini glass.
- Grate fresh nutmeg over the top and serve immediately.
Notes
- Adjust the creaminess. This is a pretty boozy cocktail. If you’d prefer it creamier and less strong, increase the heavy cream to 1.5 or 2 ounces.
- Try different spirits. The original “Alexander” cocktail was made with gin. You could also try rum for a different flavor profile.
- Make it with cognac. Use cognac instead of brandy for a more refined, complex flavor (though it will be pricier!).
- Add coffee liqueur. Substitute half the creme de cacao with coffee liqueur like Kahlua for a mocha twist.
David says
People from the coasts think that the ‘drink of Wisconsin’ is beer. People from the Midwest think the ‘drink of Wisconsin’ is a brandy old fashioned. But people from Wisconsin know that drinks like this (Pink Squirrel, Grasshopper, Brandy Alexander, etc) are the ‘true’ drinks of Wisconsin 🙂
Meredith says
🙌 heck yes!
Meredith says
Can’t beat a good brandy cocktail! Fun to try this shaken version, I usually go for an ice cream brandy alexander!