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Head to head

Alexander vs. Bushwacker

Alexander and Bushwacker side by side: what changes in the recipe, the balance, the strength and the calories.

The difference, by the numbers

Both have crème de cacao. Only the Alexander has Cognac and cream; only the Bushwacker has dark rum, coffee liqueur, cream of coconut and milk. In parts, an Alexander is 1 brandy, 1 cacao and 1 cream; a Bushwacker is 1 rum, 1 coffee liqueur, 1 cacao, 2 coconut and 2 milk. By volume, the Alexander is 34% mixer and juice, 33% spirit and 33% liqueur; the Bushwacker is 57% mixer and juice, 29% liqueur and 14% spirit. That makes them close cousins on the ratio map.

The Alexander is the stronger drink in the glass (13.1% ABV against 7.3%), but the Bushwacker is the bigger drink, so it holds more alcohol (1.39 standard drinks against 1.05). The Bushwacker has more calories (about 526 against 248) and more sugar (64.3 g against 11.4 g). The Alexander is shaken and served in a coupe; the Bushwacker is blended and served in a hurricane glass.

Alexander

Creamy & After-Dinner · Brandy

Strength
13.1%
Std. drinks
1.05
Calories
248
Sugar
11.4 g

Shaken, served in a coupe. About 4½ oz (142 ml) in the glass. Garnish: Freshly grated nutmeg.

The ratio · 1 : 1 : 1

Full Alexander recipe →

Highlighted: not in the Bushwacker.

On the ratio map

SpiritVermouthCitrusMixerSyrupLiqueurAlexanderBushwacker

Each drink sits nearer the corners it has more of: spirit, vermouth and bitter, citrus, mixer, syrup or liqueur. The gray dots are the other classics. Explore the full ratio map.

More head to heads

Alexander vs.

Bushwacker vs.

All head to heads →