When thinking about autumnal flavours, pumpkin is king. This incredibly versatile ingredient can be savoury or sweet and can be used in any recipe you can think of- cocktails are no exception. This riff on the Brandy Alexander brings together brandy, amaretto, cream, pumpkin, and cinnamon to create a decadent cocktail that will be perfect for your next fall gathering.

What's an Alexander?

In the world of cocktails, the Alexander is often overlooked. The original Alexander recipe called for equal parts gin, crème de cacao, and cream. Over the years, the boozier Brandy Alexander has become the default, replacing gin with brandy as the base spirit. Nowadays, there are hundreds of variations using different spirits and liqueurs, but the basic blueprint of an Alexander is: base spirit, liqueur, and cream. Feel free to experiment with this blueprint and make it your own!

First, some things to be aware of:

• Pure pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie filling are not interchangeable. Pure pumpkin puree is just that: blended up pumpkin in a can. It is not sweetened or seasoned, so you can do anything you want with it. Pumpkin pie filling, alternatively, is sweetened as it is meant to be put into a dessert. This is completely fine for a dessert pie, but not necessarily for a cocktail where you may not want it so sweet. For control over the flavour, stick with pure pumpkin puree.
• To take this cocktail to the next level, freeze your glass in your freezer. This ensures that the cocktail stays cold in the glass even as you drink it, preserving the optimum texture of the drink for longer.

On to the Pumpkin Alexander!

How to make it

Everything in the shaker

Add the brandy, amaretto, cream, and pumpkin puree to a shaker and shake well with ice until well-chilled.‍

Shaking (as opposed to stirring) is important here, as it serves to simultaneously mix, dilute, chill, and work air into the ingredients due to the slamming of the ice against the liquid. The airy quality of the final cocktail gives it a lightness that balances the richness of the ingredients.

Double strain

Double-strain into a chilled coupe.

Why double straining? Because it helps filter out any larger bits of pumpkin and ice to make for a smoother, more elegant cocktail. Additionally, any ice shards that get into the drink will continue to melt and dilute it resulting in a weaker, more bland cocktail.

Garnish and serve

Garnish with freshly grated cinnamon

The cinnamon doesn't need to be fresh, but fresh cinnamon makes a difference to the spice-level of the drink, offering further balance to the rich ingredients.