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Basic Eggnog, Swank Cocktail #12

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Basic Eggnog cocktail recipe
Basic Eggnog cocktail recipe

Basic Eggnog is cocktail number 12 on the Swank Cocktail Guide.

Eggnog

In modern times, eggnog typically comes from a carton and is handed to you sans alcohol at a holiday party along with several cookies on a festive napkin, after which you wander around and “accidentally” set the beverage somewhere to be lost forever.

Eggnog actually dates back centuries and, as the cocktail recipe books from the 1800s illustrate, there were quite a few variations to the beverage, most of which included large quantities of raw eggs and alcohol.

“An Account of the Late Mad circuit of Judge Brackenridge,” newspaper article, Lancaster Journal (Lancaster, Pennsylvania), 13 Dec 1800, p. 2, col. 4.
“An Account of the Late Mad Circuit of Judge Brackenridge,” newspaper article, Lancaster Journal (Lancaster, Pennsylvania), 13 Dec 1800, p. 2, col. 4.
Jerry Thomas, How to Mix Drinks, The Bon-vivant’s Companion (New York : 1862), p. 40-42, Egg Nog.
Jerry Thomas, How to Mix Drinks, The Bon-vivant’s Companion (New York : 1862), p. 40-42, Egg Nog.
Leo Englel, American and Other Drinks (1878), p. 32-33, Egg Nogg.
Leo Engel, American and Other Drinks (1878), p. 32-33, Egg Nogg.

Basic Eggnog cocktail recipe

Basic Eggnog cocktail recipe
Basic Eggnog cocktail recipe

Combine in a shaker with ice, 2 jiggers Brandy or light Rum, 1 Egg, 1 tablespoon Sugar, and 3/4 cup milk. Shake well and strain. Add nutmeg.

Ingredients used:

  • 1) E & J Brandy and 2) Bacardi Light Rum
  • Egg
  • Sugar
  • 2% Milk and Light Cream
  • Nutmeg

Basic Eggnog cocktail review

Our ratings (1-5 🍸) Rating scale

Greg: Rum version 🍸🍸🍸🍸 Brandy version 🍸🍸🍸🍸🍸
Kim: Rum version 🍸🍸🍸🍸 Brandy version 🍸🍸🍸🍸🍸

Our pre-cocktail assessment was that we would hate this one. We were pleasantly surprised.

To begin making the drinks, I beat the egg and sugar very well. For the dairy portion, I added 2/3 2% milk and 1/3 light cream. We then made one version using rum and one version using brandy.

The rum eggnog tastes very similar to the mixture prior to adding alcohol. The brandy eggnog has a more alcoholic taste, with more depth. We both liked both, but favored the more flavorful brandy version.

We recognize this cocktail contains raw eggs so, while we made and enjoyed this cocktail, we don’t recommend drinking anything with raw eggs, so our advice is to skip this one.

Next up… Cocktail #13, Bee’s Knees

Swank Cocktail Guide: 80 cocktails in 80 days

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