John Lennon survived his Lost Weekend on Brandy Alexanders—not whiskey, not vodka, but a cocktail so rich it makes tiramisu look like a light snack. This liquid dessert started as a gin drink at a fancy New York restaurant, but bartenders swapped in brandy during Prohibition and it became so popular the original basically got erased from history. The secret is violent shaking for 15 seconds until your hands hurt from cold, because cream needs aggression to transform into that silky, foam-topped texture that proves sophistication and indulgence aren't opposites—they're drunk dance partners.