Alexander: Difference between revisions

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Originally appearing as a gin drink, it would eventually evolve into the "Brandy Alexander", with the gin variation all be disappearing. Using other spirits beyond gin and brandy never seems to have become a thing, so the "Alexander" may not technically be considered as its own category of mixed drink.
Originally appearing as a gin drink, it would eventually evolve into the "Brandy Alexander", with the gin variation all be disappearing. Using other spirits beyond gin and brandy never seems to have become a thing, so the "Alexander" may not technically be considered as its own category of mixed drink.
The cocktail, according to historian Barry Popik, was likely born at Rector’s (1899-1919), New York’s premier pre-Prohibition lobster palace. The bartender there, a certain Troy Alexander, is said to have created his eponymous concoction in order to serve a white drink at a dinner celebrating [fictional character] Phoebe Snow<ref>[https://www.liquor.com/articles/behind-the-drink-the-brandy-alexander Behind the Drink: Brandy Alexander], by Gary Regan (Liquor.com)</ref>. Phoebe Snow was created to promote the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad around 1900. Train travel in the day was dirty business, with travelers being covered in soot after a trip of any significant length. Lackawanna was able to prevent this by using anthracite, a cleaner-burning form of coal. They promoted this through advertising where their fictional character Phoebe Snow was always wearing a clean white dress. <ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoebe_Snow_(character) Phoebe Snow] (Wikipedia)</ref>


The earliest known recipe is from Hugo Ensslin’s 1916 Recipes for Mixed Drinks <ref>[https://euvs-vintage-cocktail-books.cld.bz/1917-Recipes-for-Mixed-Drinks-by-Hugo-R-Ensslin-second-edition/6/ Recipes for Mixed Drinks] by Hugo Ensslin (1917, second edition)</ref>.  
The earliest known recipe is from Hugo Ensslin’s 1916 Recipes for Mixed Drinks <ref>[https://euvs-vintage-cocktail-books.cld.bz/1917-Recipes-for-Mixed-Drinks-by-Hugo-R-Ensslin-second-edition/6/ Recipes for Mixed Drinks] by Hugo Ensslin (1917, second edition)</ref>.  
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The cocktail, according to historian Barry Popik, was likely born at Rector’s (1899-1919), New York’s premier pre-Prohibition lobster palace. The bartender there, a certain Troy Alexander, is said to have created his eponymous concoction in order to serve a white drink at a dinner celebrating [fictional character] Phoebe Snow<ref>[https://www.liquor.com/articles/behind-the-drink-the-brandy-alexander Behind the Drink: Brandy Alexander], by Gary Regan (Liquor.com)</ref>. Phoebe Snow was created to promote the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad around 1900. Train travel in the day was dirty business, with travelers being covered in soot after a trip of any significant length. Lackawanna was able to prevent this by using anthracite, a cleaner-burning form of coal. They promoted this through advertising where their fictional character Phoebe Snow was always wearing a clean white dress.


An earlier form of a drink by the same name appears in “Jack’s Manual” (1910)<ref>[https://euvs-vintage-cocktail-books.cld.bz/1910-Jack-s-manual-on-the-vintage-and-production-care-and-handling-of-wines-liquors-etc-1910/32/ Jack's Manual] by J. A. Grohusko (1910)</ref>
An earlier form of a drink by the same name appears in “Jack’s Manual” (1910)<ref>[https://euvs-vintage-cocktail-books.cld.bz/1910-Jack-s-manual-on-the-vintage-and-production-care-and-handling-of-wines-liquors-etc-1910/32/ Jack's Manual] by J. A. Grohusko (1910)</ref>

Latest revision as of 17:10, 10 February 2022

  • Spirit
  • Crème de Cacao
  • Cream

Originally appearing as a gin drink, it would eventually evolve into the "Brandy Alexander", with the gin variation all be disappearing. Using other spirits beyond gin and brandy never seems to have become a thing, so the "Alexander" may not technically be considered as its own category of mixed drink.

The cocktail, according to historian Barry Popik, was likely born at Rector’s (1899-1919), New York’s premier pre-Prohibition lobster palace. The bartender there, a certain Troy Alexander, is said to have created his eponymous concoction in order to serve a white drink at a dinner celebrating [fictional character] Phoebe Snow[1]. Phoebe Snow was created to promote the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad around 1900. Train travel in the day was dirty business, with travelers being covered in soot after a trip of any significant length. Lackawanna was able to prevent this by using anthracite, a cleaner-burning form of coal. They promoted this through advertising where their fictional character Phoebe Snow was always wearing a clean white dress. [2]

The earliest known recipe is from Hugo Ensslin’s 1916 Recipes for Mixed Drinks [3].

ALEXANDER COCKTAIL

1/3 El Bart Gin
1/3 Creme de Cocoa
1/3 Sweet Cream

Shake well in a mixing glass with cracked ice, strain and serve.

An earlier form of a drink by the same name appears in “Jack’s Manual” (1910)[4]

ALEXANDER COCKTAIL
(Use bar glass.)
75% rye whiskey
25% Benedictine
1 piece of ice
Twist of orange peel.
    Stir and serve.

References

  1. Behind the Drink: Brandy Alexander, by Gary Regan (Liquor.com)
  2. Phoebe Snow (Wikipedia)
  3. Recipes for Mixed Drinks by Hugo Ensslin (1917, second edition)
  4. Jack's Manual by J. A. Grohusko (1910)