Brandy Alexander

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Edward Albee, 1962

1 oz. brandy

2 oz. crème de cacao

4 oz. crème fraîche

Dash of nutmeg, for garnish

Place all of the ingredients, except for the nutmeg, in cocktail shaker, fill it two-thirds of the way with ice, and shake until chilled.

Strain into a cocktail glass, garnish with the dash of nutmeg, and enjoy.

We’d go into a bar… you know, a bar… a whiskey, beer, and bourbon bar… and what she’d do would be, she’d screw up her face, think real hard, and come up with… brandy Alexanders, creme de cacao frappes, gimlets, flaming punch bowls… seven-layer liqueur things.

Albee’s play explores the tensions between a middle-aged married couple, Martha and George. George teaches history at a local college, while Martha is the daughter of the college’s president. The play involves them inviting over a younger couple, Nick and Honey, and as the acts unfold, the tensions and delusions between George and Martha become clear. In this scene, near the beginning, George talks about his wife’s love of “lady-like little drinkies” before they got married, including the Brandy Alexander.

A Brandy Alexander is indeed a special drink, related to the Alexandra on page 92. It consists of brandy, crème de cacao, and cream, and is usually garnished with nutmeg. This would make a fine winter holiday drink, in an academic setting or otherwise.