Happy National Eggnog Day, everyone! And happy holidays! When the winter holidays arrive, so does the eggnog. Pour yourself one and drink in this nog info.
Every time you hoist a mug of eggnog, you’re about to enjoy a beverage once mainly imbibed by the aristocracy. You see, you had to be able to afford milk and eggs to make eggnog and that meant being a person with means. With those ingredients obtained, brandy, Madeira or sherry was added to create a drink that closely resembled the modern version. There was also a version meant to be consumed for breakfast called the Hell’s Angel. That almost makes a frothy drink sound tough, doesn’t it?
The exact origin of eggnog is disputed but it’s believed that the source was somewhere in Europe. The creamy treat hit the colonies in the 18th century where it became a big hit due to easy access to eggs and dairy. And, since Americans are nothing if not resourceful, because brandy and wine were taxed quite heavily, we introduced rum to the list of ingredients. You’re welcome, world.
One of the best features of eggnog is that it lends itself to experimentation: start with the base ingredients and play with spirits, fortified wines, liqueurs and garnishes. Whether you call it eggnog, egg nog or the less popular egg milk punch, we hope you and your guests will enjoy one of these variations.
Cheers!
This more traditional variant calls for Irish whiskey and Bailey’s Espresso Crème Liqueur.
Those who are interested in trying a milkshake version of this classic will love Frozen Eggnog.