Classic
Eggnog
Holiday classic
American holiday canonical. Dense, creamy, nutmeg-crowned. George Washington's recipe famously called for brandy, rye, Jamaican rum, and sherry together; modern single-spirit versions use bourbon (our default), brandy, or dark rum interchangeably. Brandy is a classical-leaning substitute — swap 1:1 for a softer, more historical profile.
Ingredients
- 2 oz Bourbon
- 1 Egg Yolk
- 3/4 oz Simple Syrup
- 3 oz Milk
- 1 oz Cream
Method
Combine bourbon (or brandy / dark rum as substitutes), egg yolk, simple syrup, milk, and cream in a shaker filled with ice. Shake hard for 15 seconds. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass. Grate fresh nutmeg generously over the top.
Sourced from Colonial American holiday tradition (George Washington's household recipe documented). First printed recipes appear in the 1820s-30s. Canonical form per Alton Brown, Wine Enthusiast, multiple historic references.