Alexander's Sister

It was bound to happen. The creamy Alexander cocktail needed a spin-off dessert drink with mint flavor. The good news is that this gin drink, which is usually great to enjoy in the winter months, is even more festive with creme de menthe.

Juniper in gin and mint make for an amazing holiday cocktail to be enjoyed with cookies. A good creme de menthe makes all the difference. I like it with higher proof stuff. So if you are shopping and see a 15-percent alcohol creme de menthe, pass it up and get one closer to 40-percent. It keeps the drink drier and less cloying.

The recipe says to use either the green or the white creme de menthe, but if you have green and it's almost Christmas, then flaunt it.

• 1 1/2 oz. gin (Filibuster dual cask used)
• 1 oz. green or white creme de menthe (Dekuyper green used)
• 1 oz. half-and-half
• freshly grated nutmeg

Combine liquid ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Sprinkle with nutmeg.