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 cozy blanket. Here is our favorite spiked Eggnog Cocktail recipe to set the scene for a delicious festive season.
Eggnog Cocktail Recipe
PREP TIME 60 min
QUICK TIPS
INSTRUCTIONS
01
1.
Mix the eggs using a whisk, electric mixer, or blender for 1 minute
02
2.
Add the sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves, and blend for another 30 seconds
03
3.
Slowly pour in Wild Turkey and Grand Marnier, and blend for another 30 seconds
04
4.
Add the milk and cream and blend for 1 minute more
05
5.
Cover and leave in the fridge to chill, preferably overnight
06
6.
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 favorite Christmas drink had its origins in England as early as the 1200s. From there 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.
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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 favorite 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 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 cozy drink also is also a great choice for:
- Winter weddings
- Fall dinners
- Cool-weather bachelorettes
- 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.
