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    Home » Classic Cocktails » Brandy Alexander - Make John Lennon's Favorite Cocktail

    Published: Aug 28, 2020 · Modified: Feb 26, 2022 by Kevin Mayfield · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Brandy Alexander - Make John Lennon's Favorite Cocktail

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This mid century Brandy Alexander cocktail -- full of chocolatey decadence -- will rock your world. It's no wonder John Lennon was known to have a few too many!

    The Brandy Alexander is an easy to make chocolate flavored cocktail that is mixed with cream and Creme de Cacao liqueur. Blend it up instead of merely shaking and it is like drinking a milk shake.

    My personal recollections of the Brandy Alexander

    I always think of John Lennon when I drink a Brandy Alexander cocktail. It is said that it was a favorite drink of his when he was out on the town in Los Angeles. Apparently he couldn't handle them very well. If you're a Beatles fan like me, you'll know the story of him being ejected from a nightclub for heckling performers while drunk. Okay, not one of his better moments!

    Mysterious beginnings

    This cocktail hit my list of classic mid century cocktails because it is a close cousin to the Grasshopper, which I covered in another post. Like most cocktails, many people either try to directly take credit for inventing it or for having it named after them. The Brandy Alexander was created in the 1900's and is thought to have sprung from another drink made with gin, named simply "Alexander." Not being a gin guy, I probably won't be mixing that variation. I personally like to imagine that it was named after a Russian tsar, but who really knows? It most likely was named after the bartender that invented it. Like many frozen cocktails, it gained a big following in the 1950's, but slowly faded away by the 1970's. It has gotten plenty of mentions in movies and literature. I'm a little surprised that it is not more popular today.

    The drink is pretty simple to make with only three ingredients. The method you use to make it impacts the taste. I've tried it shaken and served over ice and it was a good enough drink, but when I put it in the blender the froth really made it pop. Nancy said it needed to be more chocolatey, so I added a little cocoa powder to the recipe and that completed it. John Lennon was right, it really does taste like a milkshake now. 'Imagine' that!

    Brandy Alexander Cocktail Recipe

    Kevin Mayfield
    The Brandy Alexander is a cool way to drink a chocolate frozen treat! This mid century cocktail is a favorite for those who like a sweet cocktail.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 3 minutes mins
    Total Time 3 minutes mins
    Course Cocktails
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1 Serving
    Calories 393 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 ½ ounces Brandy
    • 1 ½ ounces Creme de Cocoa
    • 1 ½ ounces heavy whipping cream
    • ¼ teaspoon Hershey's Cocoa powder
    • Handful of ice cubes

    Instructions
     

    Shaken

    • Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Pour into cocktail glass and garnish with cherries.

    Blended

    • Pour all ingredients into a blender and pulse/blend for about 10-20 seconds. Pour into cocktail and garnish with cherries.

    Notes

    You can use whipped cream as a topping
    Try drizzling some chocolate syrup across the top of the drink to add to the chocolate flavor
    Add a little nutmeg sprinkled across the top for a flavor variation

    Nutrition

    Calories: 393kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 1gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 58mgSodium: 17mgPotassium: 37mgFiber: 1gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 625IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 28mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword 1960's cocktails, madmen cocktails, midcentury party cocktails, party cocktails
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    About Kevin Mayfield

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    Nancy and Bentley

    Hi, I'm Nancy! Welcome to Flourchild where I share classic mid-century recipes from the 1940's - 1970's. I feature many vintage handwritten recipes, and provide modern shortcuts and a variety of healthy and special diet-friendly versions whenever possible. Join me in exploring the delicious flavors and from-scratch cooking techniques of our past!

    More about me →

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