Black Flannel Academy

Brandy Alexander

Brandy · Cocoa · Cognac · Cream · Creamy & dessert-like · Sweet
Brandy Alexander cocktail photograph
Photo: Brandy Alexander on the Rocks.jpg — Will Shenton · CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized for display; photo remains under its stated license. Brandy Alexander served on the rocks.

Cognac, cocoa and cream suggest a rounded dessert drink, with nutmeg lifting the rich finish.

IBA published specification · 1 reference serve.

Glassware

Cocktail glass

Technique

Shake

Ice

None in serving glass

Garnish

Sprinkle fresh ground nutmeg on top

Preparation effort

Moderate

Ingredients & measurements

Ingredient mL US fl oz Source measure / qualification
Cognac 30 1.01 30 ml Cognac
Crème de Cacao (Brown) 30 1.01 30 ml Crème de Cacao (Brown)
Fresh Cream 30 1.01 30 ml Fresh Cream

Converted equivalents are rounded for display; use one measurement system consistently. Dashes, spoonfuls, fruit counts and unspecified top-ups remain source measures. A blank equivalent does not mean zero.

How to make it

Shake the measured ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled glass.

Glass: Cocktail glass. Ice: None in serving glass. Garnish: Sprinkle fresh ground nutmeg on top.

Flavor & balance

  • Sweet (dominant): Sweeteners, fruit or sweetened modifiers round the attack and add weight; product sugar varies.

Assess sweetness, bitterness and tactile drying separately. These flavor expectations are based on recipe structure, not measured tasting scores. Actual products, ice and dilution will change the result.

Preparation & batching

Service complexity: moderate. Batchability: spirit components only.

  • Measure and label the chosen product specification; chill appropriate glassware.

Finish chilling, dilution and garnish at service. Trial the actual serving method before approving a batch. Workload is an editorial assessment; no labor timing or storage validation is claimed.

Ingredient checks: Milk: check dairy ingredients and all chosen products. These checks are not a complete allergen declaration for every brand or garnish.

Spirit & ingredient choices

Style Role Evidence level Qualification
S040 — Cognac base documented Named ingredient fits this style family; confirm the chosen product identity.
S064 — Other Liqueur supporting documented Named ingredient fits this style family; confirm the chosen product identity.

Recipe notes & variations

The IBA Alexander uses Cognac. A gin Alexander is a distinct historical version and is not silently substituted here.

For a Black Flannel variation, change one component at a time and record the selected product, proof, sweetener concentration and dilution. Compare it with this reference before naming or publishing the variation.

Sources & further reading

  • International Bartenders Association — checked 2026-09-18. Recipe identity and published ingredient specification; editorial sensory and workload assessments are not source tasting results.

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