How To Make A Traditional Tom & Jerry Cocktail For Classic Christmas Revelries

Frosty, wintry festive evenings mean curling up on the sofa with warm throws, woollen socks, comfy jumpers and palms wrapped around a mug of a hot Christmasy drink. Festive concoctions to battle the winter chill spread a comforting heat through the body, warming our spirits and bodies alike during this celebratory season. Traditional Christmas cocktails then abound the rosters of mixology enthusiasts imbuing the spirit of the festive season into any gathering hosted during the holidays.

One such popular cocktail that is a classic Christmas drink especially in America is the Tom & Jerry, an eggnog-like creation served in a round mug or deep bowl. Where eggnog is enjoyed many-a-times without alcohol, Tom & Jerry contains brandy and rum and is served hot during the winter months.

Tom & Jerry: A Look Back

There are a couple of interesting stories around how the cocktail came to be enjoyed as a Christmas delicacy. One of the most popular narratives around the origin of Tom & Jerry revolves around the British writer and journalist Pierce Egan who mentioned this drink in his 1821 book, Life in London. The punch enthusiast wrote about a frothy drink which was a spin on the traditional eggnog. Egan is believed to have concocted this drink to publicise his book and a play by the same name by adding a bit of brandy to eggnog. The recipe evolved over time and became a Christmas and New Year’s staple.

Another theory mentions Jerry Thomas, the bartender at Planters House Hotel in St. Louis, as the creator of this cocktail which he wrote about in his 19th century work, How To Mix Drinks or The Bon Vivant’s Companion. According to this story, the drink was named after the bartender’s pet mice, Thomas and Jerry. While the punch drifts in and out of mixology histories through the centuries, it has largely remained as a home holiday party cocktail generally made for family and friends gathering around a warm fire on wintry nights.

It is quite simple to mix a classic Tom & Jerry at home! All you need is a few basic ingredients like eggs, milk, spices, good quality dark rum, cognac and brandy. You can stock up on a bottle of Captain Morgan Dark Rum for all your Christmas cocktail needs.

Read on for a simple recipe to make a mug full of the classic Tom & Jerry cocktail for fuzzy Christmas and New Year’s evenings:

Ingredients

Boiling water

2 eggs

1 tb powdered sugar

Vanilla extract (optional)

45 ml dark rum

45 ml brandy or cognac

Warm whole milk

For the garnish: 

Grated nutmeg, cloves and allspice

Method

Rinse a large coffee mug or jar with warm, boiling water to heat the mug. Discard the water after rinsing.

Separate the egg whites and yolks in two bowls.

Beat the egg whites in the bowl until stiff peaks are formed.

In the bowl with egg yolks, add sugar, premium quality dark rum and brandy or cognac and vanilla extract.

Fold in the beaten egg whites with all the other ingredients to form a smooth mixture.

To make the drink, top it with warm milk while stirring continuously.

Garnish with grated nutmeg, cloves and allspice. 

Adjust the ingredients proportionately to make a large batch for your guests. The cocktail is an excellent choice if you are hosting an informal do at home with a bunch of intimate friends and relatives.

Wrapping Up…

The classic Tom & Jerry cocktail is a warm drink for wintry evenings during the festive season. It has a fascinating history that can be traced back to 19th century mixology involving a spin on eggnog by adding a bit of brandy and rum to the traditional recipe. Go on, and buy a bottle of rum to get your Christmas cocktail on!