Alexander’s Sister
Dry shake ∙ 5 min ∙ 16.7% ABV ∙
The Alexander’s Sister is a creamy gin cocktail with green crème de menthe in place of the Alexander’s crème de cacao, shaken and dusted with nutmeg.
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
- Grate the nutmeg fresh over the top just before serving; pre-ground nutmeg loses its aroma fast.
- Stick to 15 ml of crème de menthe; the mint should accent the cream, not take it over.
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. It takes the gin, crème de cacao, and cream of the original Alexander and replaces the crème de cacao with crème de menthe, which gives it an herbal, green character in place of the chocolate note.
Craddock's original is built in equal parts of gin, crème de menthe, and cream; this recipe uses more gin and less crème de menthe and cream. The Alexander itself first appeared in print in 1914 and was recorded in Hugo Ensslin's 1916 Recipes for Mixed Drinks.
FAQ
What is the Alexander's Sister cocktail?
A creamy gin cocktail, the mint version of the classic Alexander. Green crème de menthe replaces the crème de cacao. The drink is shaken with London dry gin, cream and egg white and finished with grated nutmeg.
How do you make an Alexander's Sister?
Shake 45 ml London dry gin, 15 ml green crème de menthe, 25 ml cream, 5 ml sugar syrup and 10 ml egg white with ice. Strain the ice out, shake again without ice, then fine-strain into a chilled coupe and dust with freshly grated nutmeg.
What glass is an Alexander's Sister served in?
A chilled coupe, served up with no ice, so the cream stays cold without being watered down. Grated nutmeg goes on top.
Is an Alexander's Sister shaken or stirred?
Shaken twice. The cream and egg white need a hard shake to emulsify into a smooth foam: first with ice, then again without ice before straining.
