Cocktail Of The Week: Eggnog
WHAT IT IS:
A delicious Christmas cocktail made using milk, eggs, sugar, cream, and alcohol.
WHAT IT'S MADE OF:
Eggnog, as the name suggests, is made using eggs, milk, cream, sugar and alcohol –- which is usually cognac or rum.
HOW IT'S MADE:
There are no special techniques involved in eggnog's recipe, unless you consider beating the egg whites.
ORIGINS:
Eggnog is believed to be derived from a 13th-century British drink called the posset. Posset is a warm ale punch made with eggs and figs which was very popular among the British monks. As time passed, the drink was merged with varying milk and wine punches. At one point in time, adding sherry to it became a popular practice. However, since the ingredients used to make this drink were scarce at that time in Europe, it was reserved for the wealthy and served in tiny cups. It was used to celebrate health and wealth in the continent.
Soon, the drink transformed from being the cocktail of the European elite to a common holiday drink in America. American colonists took it with them to the continent. As they had an abundance of farms, dairy products' supply was aplenty. So was the alcoholic beverage rum, which came from the Caribbean. Rum, at that point, was cheaper than brandy and other spirits, which were heavily taxed and brought from Europe.
Here's George Washington's recipe for his stout eggnog as per The Old Farmer's Almanac:
"One quart cream, one quart milk, one dozen tablespoons sugar, one pint brandy, ½ pint rye whiskey, ½ pint Jamaica rum, ¼ pint sherry – mix liquor first, then separate yolks and whites of 12 eggs, add sugar to beaten yolks, mix well."
BEST FOR:
Eggnog is the perfect drink to serve at large gatherings in a punch bowl. It is traditionally served during winters, especially during Christmas.
CAN I MAKE IT NON-ALCOHOLIC?
Yes, eggnog began as a non-alcoholic drink served at large gatherings. Below is the recipe for non-alcoholic eggnog for batch proportions.
Recipe for non-alcoholic eggnog
Ingredients
1 vanilla pod, split and seeds scraped out
4 egg yolks
100 ml sugar syrup
100 ml double cream
500 ml whole milk
ice
Method
Take the vanilla seeds and put them in a large bowl. Add the egg yolks and sugar syrup and beat the mixture with an electric whisk until it turns pale. This should take two to three minutes. Add cream, and milk and beat the contents again until they combine.
Now fill a large jug with ice and strain the eggnog mixture. Stir gently till the outside of the jug turns cold. Serve it to the guests in tumblers.
THE RECIPE:
Classic Eggnog Recipe (Batch portions)
Ingredients
1 vanilla pod, split and seeds scraped out
4 eggs, separated
100 ml sugar syrup
100 ml double cream
500 ml whole milk
100-150 ml Captain Morgan Dark Rum
ice
Method
Take a large bowl and add vanilla seeds, egg yolks and sugar syrup. Use an electric whisk to beat the contents until they turn pale. This should take around two to three minutes. Add cream, milk and rum and beat again until the contents combine. Strain the mixture into a punch bowl.
Now clean the beaters, and use it to beat egg whites in a clean bowl into soft peaks. Fold 1/3rd of the whipped egg whites into the milk and cream mixture in the punch bowl and then add the rest of the egg whites. Gently fold the mixture until the eggnog is fluffy and smooth. Chill until you are ready to serve.
Before serving, add plenty of ice and use a ladle to serve it into tumblers.
While it is normal to learn about spirits and cocktails and enjoy them, it is key to consume alcohol moderately. It is absolutely necessary that one serves and drinks responsibly to maintain health and to stay out of any harm's way. If you know anyone who finds it difficult to control their alcohol consumption, please refer them to a professional.
