In celebration of World Gin Day on the 12th of June, we’re launching a brand-new A-Z of Classic Cocktail recipes! Every month, we’ll be featuring the recipe for a classic gin cocktail, each beginning with a different letter of the alphabet.

Now, some may be intimidated by the idea of a classic cocktail, but we’re here to tell you that there is nothing scary about these recipes! Most of these delicious gin tipples have become classics for a reason - they taste wonderful, but they are also very simple to make at home!

In fact, many of the most famous classic gin cocktails are actually among the very easiest to create yourself, so long as you have the right ingredients.

Just think: how many ingredients does a classic Martini have? Two! What’s in a gin gimlet? Just gin and lime! So you see? Classic cocktails can be easy!

So: if you’re a true gin lover, and you’re ready to take your cocktail-making know-how to the next level, then dive in with our first classic cocktail in this A-Z series.

The Gin Alexander: creamy, chocolatey, boozy perfection!

Meet the Alexander: a delightful, creamy cocktail brimming with sweet notes, this famous cocktail recipe is a must for chocolate-lovers and those with a sweet tooth! Easy to make and oh-so-delicious, it’s the perfect after-dinner digestif. Who needs dessert, anyway?!

History of the Alexander

You might be familiar with the Brandy Alexander, but did you know that the original Alexander featured our favourite spirit? That’s right – the original, and in our humble opinion the best, version of this drink was actually made with gin!

First referenced in the early 20th century, the Alexander is thought by some drinks historians to have been invented in honour of Grover Cleveland Alexander, a famous baseball player. Meanwhile, others posit that it was first created by Troy Alexander, a bartender at a lobster restaurant in New York.

Whatever its origin, it had been delighting gin drinkers for years before the Brandy Alexander made an appearance, and it’s still favoured by top bartenders today.

It’s easy to see why. In his 1937 book Famous New Orleans Drinks and how to Mix ‘em, Stanley Clisby Arthur wrote, “Smooth as cream, delicate as dew, and easily prepared is the Alexander. Give it all you’ve got in elbow grease to make it live up to its reputation – for it is truly Alexander the Great among drinks in its class.”

Gin Alexander

25ml gin
25ml crème de cacao (chocolate liqueur)
25ml cream
1 egg white (optional)
Lightly grated nutmeg, to garnish

First add your ingredients to a cocktail shaker and dry shake (without ice). Then pop open your shaker and add plenty of ice. Shake again and strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish and serve.

We hope you enjoy our recipe for this beautiful drink as much as we do! Let us know how you get on - don’t forget to share your pics of your cocktail creations on our social channels!