Eggnog Cocktail Recipe

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PREP TIME 60 min

Cocktail Type

Bourbon

Great for

Christmas

Difficulty

Medium

Eggnog Cocktail Recipe

Once the star is on top of the tree and the stockings are hanging from the mantlepiece, the only thing left to do is pour some eggnog, settle back in front of a crackling fire and let the warmth and joy of the holiday season wrap around you like a cosy blanket. Here is our favourite spiked Eggnog Cocktail recipe to set the scene for a delicious festive season.   

 

QUICK TIPS

01

Try Frangelico instead of Grand Marnier if you like things nutty 

02

Double the recipe to serve 8+ guests 

03

Add a cinnamon sugar rim for a festive finish 

INGREDIENTS

MAKE FOR

4 Persons

90 Ml

3 Oz

3 Parts

60 Ml

2 Oz

2 Parts

180 Ml

6 Oz

6 Parts

Full-cream milk
120 Ml

4 Oz

4 Parts

Heavy cream
2
Large eggs
125
Grams granulated sugar
1
pinch grated nutmeg
1
pinch ground cinnamon
1
pinch ground allspice
1
pinch ground cloves
To garnish, grated nutmeg or cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS

01

Mix the eggs using a whisk, electric mixer, or blender for 1 minute

02

Add the sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves, and blend for another 30 seconds

03

Slowly pour in the Wild Turkey and Grand Marnier, and blend for another 30 seconds

04

Add the milk and cream and blend for 1 minute more

05

Cover and leave in the fridge to chill, preferably overnight

06

Garnish with nutmeg or cinnamon just before serving

What Kind of Alcohol is in Eggnog?

Back in the 1600s, the alcoholic component of choice for eggnog was sherry. Once it was entrenched as a holiday tradition in America, the folks from each state added their personal touch. For instance, in the south they believe the best eggnog alcohol to be whiskey, while cocktail enthusiasts in northern states preferred rum. 

As for us, we love using a nice smoky bourbon like Wild Turkey 101. It has a hint of sweetness upfront, with vanilla and caramel notes sparring with oak and baking spices in the middle and a bold finish with plenty of spice and orange peel on the palate. Absolutely gorgeous in the creamy base of the eggnog! 

A Brief History of the Classic Eggnog cocktail

The story goes that everyone’s favourite Christmas drink had its origins in England as early as the 1200s. From here it only grew in popularity, and eventually spread around the globe. 

While the original eggnog recipe with alcohol was served warm, a bartending guide from the 1700s also stated that it could be enjoyed cold. As for the name itself, history is a bit murky. However, language historians believe that it’s a confluence of ‘egg’ and ‘grogs’ (which was an old-timey word for ‘drinks’).  

Today, eggnog is still enjoyed in many countries in the world, and has inspired many tasty variations. This includes dairy-free eggnog and vegan eggnog to suit diverse dietary preferences. 

Leftover eggs? Your Guide to Making Egg White Cocktails the Easy Way 

Delicious Eggnog Cocktail variations to try 

Once you know how to make alcoholic eggnog, the great thing is that you can create a bunch of different drinks from the same base. Here are a few of our favourite twists on this classic holiday drink:  

Eggnog Martini

With only three ingredients, whipping up a festive Eggnog Martini won’t take you long at all. It’s a simple and delicious way to elevate your Christmas cocktail party with some vanilla-flavored vodka in the mix. 

Peppermint Eggnog

Our very merry Peppermint Eggnog cocktail is a cool drink that does its warming from the inside out. You can make it by adding a measure of vodka and peppermint schnapps to your homemade eggnog base, or opt for store-bought instead. 

When to serve a classic Eggnog Cocktail

We love serving our classic Eggnog Cocktail at festive events around the holidays, but this cosy drink also is also a great choice for:  

  • Winter weddings 
  • Fall dinners 
  • Cool-weather hen do’s
  • Snowy weekends 

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We love making eggnog with a good bourbon like Wild Turkey 101, which adds lovely notes of vanilla and caramel, and hints of spice and orange on the finish.

Both rum and brandy work well as alcohol for eggnog, but we actually love using a good bourbon like Wild Turkey 101, which adds lovely notes of vanilla and caramel, with hints of spice and orange on the finish.

While the original eggnog recipe with alcohol was served warm, a bartending guide from the 1700s also stated that it could be enjoyed cold. These days the rule of thumb is to make it the way YOU like it.

The great thing is that the alcohol you mix with eggnog is up to you. Back in the 1600s, the alcoholic base of choice was sherry. These days, folks like using whiskey or rum. We prefer a good bourbon like Wild Turkey 101, which adds lovely notes of vanilla and caramel, and hints of spice and orange on the finish.