Brandy Alexander is a sweet, brandy

Brandy

Brandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume and is typically taken as an after-dinner drink...

-based cocktail

Cocktail

A cocktail is an alcoholic mixed drink that contains two or more ingredients—at least one of the ingredients must be a spirit.Cocktails were originally a mixture of spirits, sugar, water, and bitters. The word has come to mean almost any mixed drink that contains alcohol...

 consisting of cognac

Cognac (drink)

Cognac , named after the town of Cognac in France, is a variety of brandy. It is produced in the wine-growing region surrounding the town from which it takes its name, in the French Departements of Charente and Charente-Maritime....

 and crème de cacao that became popular during the early 20th century.

It was supposedly created at the time of the wedding of Princess Mary

Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood

The Princess Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood was a member of the British Royal Family; she was the third child and only daughter of King George V and Queen Mary. She was the sixth holder of the title of Princess Royal...

 and Viscount Lascelles

Henry Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood

Henry George Charles Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood KG GCVO DSO TD , styled The Hon. Henry Lascelles before 1892 and Viscount Lascelles between 1892 and 1929, was the son of the 5th Earl of Harewood and Lady Florence Bridgeman.Lascelles was commissioned into the Grenadier Guards and commanded the...

, in London, in 1922. There is another version that states the Brandy Alexander could be named after the Russian tsar, Alexander II.

The Brandy Alexander is based on an earlier, gin-based cocktail called simply an "Alexander

Alexander (cocktail)

The Alexander is a gin cocktail consisting of gin, Chocolate Liqueur , and Cream.-Recipes for Mixed Drinks, by Hugo Ensslin, 1915:Alexander Cocktail*1/3 El Bart gin*1/3 Crème de Cacao*1/3 Sweet Cream...

".

Although commonly thought to be named after the drama critic/celebrity Alexander Woollcott

Alexander Woollcott

Alexander Humphreys Woollcott was an American critic and commentator for The New Yorker magazine and a member of the Algonquin Round Table....

, the drink is believed to have been named after the tsar, Alexander II of Russia

Alexander II of Russia

Alexander II , also known as Alexander the Liberator was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881...

.