Alexander’s Sister
Dry shake ∙ 5 min ∙ 20.8% ABV ∙
The Alexander's Sister swaps the Alexander's crème de cacao for green crème de menthe, shaken with cream and dusted with nutmeg. Cool peppermint leads over a soft, velvety body of gin and cream, finishing with a warm dusting of nutmeg — a dessert-style after-dinner sipper.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: London dry gin 45 mlCrème de Menthe green 15 mlSingle cream/half-and-half 25 mlSugar syrup 5 mlEgg white 10 ml
- Strain back into the shaker
- Dry shake (without ice)
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Garnish with grated nutmeg
Tips
- Double shake: shake with ice first, then strain back and dry shake without ice to build a smooth, frothy head.
- Fine-strain into a chilled coupe so no ice shards thin the creamy texture.
- Grate the nutmeg fresh over the surface just before serving — pre-ground loses its aroma fast.
- Keep the crème de menthe in check; the mint should accent the cream, not dominate it.
History
The Alexander's Sister appears in Harry Craddock's 1930 The Savoy Cocktail Book, listed alongside the Alexander Cocktail No. 1 and No. 2. It is the mint variation within the Alexander family, replacing the crème de cacao of the cream-and-gin Alexanders with crème de menthe, which gives it a herbal, green character in place of the chocolate note. Craddock's original is built in equal parts of gin, crème de menthe, and cream.
FAQ
What is the Alexander's Sister cocktail?
The Alexander's Sister is a creamy gin cocktail and a mint variation of the classic Alexander. It uses green crème de menthe in place of crème de cacao, shaken with London dry gin and cream, then finished with grated nutmeg.
How do you make an Alexander's Sister?
Combine London dry gin, green crème de menthe, cream, a little sugar syrup, and egg white. Double shake — first with ice, then dry without ice — fine-strain into a chilled coupe, and dust with freshly grated nutmeg.
What is in an Alexander cocktail?
The original Alexander is gin, crème de cacao, and cream, shaken and strained. The Alexander's Sister keeps the gin and cream but swaps the cacao for green crème de menthe, while the Brandy Alexander uses brandy instead of gin.
What glass is an Alexander's Sister served in?
An Alexander's Sister is served straight up in a chilled coupe glass. The chilled glass keeps the creamy, mint drink cold without ice diluting it, and the nutmeg garnish is dusted over the top.
Is an Alexander's Sister shaken or stirred?
It is shaken — specifically double shaken. The cream and egg white need hard shaking to emulsify and build a smooth foam, so the drink is shaken with ice, then dry shaken without ice before straining.
