Alexander

Classic/vintage · Creamy (e.g. Dirty banana) · Dessert cocktails

4.0 85 ratings

Ingredients

How to make

Flavour profile

17.8% alc./vol. · 1.4 standard drinks · 210 calories

History

This gin-laced creamy Alexander has unfortunately slipped from popularity, partly due to its successors, particularly the Brandy Alexander.

The Alexander, a mix of gin, crème de cacao, and cream, is thought to have originated in the early 20th century, certainly before 1915. This is supported by an equal parts recipe that appeared in Hugo Ensslin's 1916 book, Recipes for Mixed Drinks. There are several plausible origins for this drink, according to historian Barry Popik's website. One account points to a clipping from the Philadelphia Inquirer, dated October 3rd, 1915. It stated, "The head bartender has even gone so far as to invent an Alexander cocktail, which he is reserving to be served during the World Series." This referred to The Racquet Club and the 1915 World Series, where Boston defeated Philadelphia. The bartender supposedly created the drink to honour Philadelphia pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander (1887-1950). Another possibility is presented in a March 21st, 1929 newspaper column by New York columnist Walter Winchell. He linked the Alexander cocktail's origin to Troy Alexander, who was a bartender at Rector's, a New York lobster restaurant operating before Prohibition. The column claimed that Troy created his namesake cocktail for a dinner that celebrated a successful advertising campaign. This advertisement featured Phoebe Snow, a fictional railway traveller. She was depicted in a snow-white dress as part of an advertising campaign for the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad (DL&W). The campaign aimed to promote the company's use of clean-burning anthracite to power its locomotives. Trains fuelled by coal often covered travellers in black soot. However, DL&W owned extensive anthracite mines in Pennsylvania, allowing them to credibly claim that their passengers would arrive clean after a long journey. The initial advertisement featured an image of Phoebe Snow, purportedly a young New York socialite who frequently travelled to Buffalo, New York. She was shown wearing a white dress, and the advertisement included a short poem: Says Phoebe Snow about to go upon a trip to Buffalo "My gown stays white from morn till night Upon the Road of Anthracite" These popular advertisements, which first appeared around the turn of the 20th century, ran for nearly 70 years. Phoebe became one of America's most recognizable advertising mascots. The Alexander gained popularity during Prohibition, as the cream and nutmeg garnish helped to mask the harsh taste of homemade 'bathtub' gin. ALEXANDER COCKTAIL ⅓ El Bart Gin ⅓ Crème de Cocoa ⅓ Sweet Cream Shake well in a mixing glass with cracked ice, strain and serve.

Also known as Alexander No. 1, Gin Alexander, Princess Mary