The Brandy Zander is our riff on the classic Brandy Alexander, also known as the Alexander No. 2, a classic mix of equal parts brandy, crème de cacao, and cream dusted with freshly grated nutmeg. While one of the earliest known mentions of the drink (featuring gin) is attributed to Hugo Ensslin’s 1917 Recipes for Mixed Drinks, the drink reached its height during America’s disco days. Our recipe ups the measure of brandy (we recommend Cognac) and adds a bonus dose of cold-brew coffee, which helps dry out the drink and give it an extra layer of depth.
Reprinted with permission from Winter Drinks by the Editors of PUNCH, copyright © 2018. Published by Ten Speed Press, a division of Penguin Random House.