What is the Best Eggnog Cocktail for this Christmas Season?

The Christmas tree is up, the decorations are on display, and the holiday spirit is in the air. It’s officially Christmas season! It’s a time for cheer, family gatherings, and, of course, delicious eggnog cocktails.

Eggnog is a unique kind of cocktail. You might wonder why mixing spices, egg yolks, and milk ever crossed someone’s mind. But we’re thankful it did. Otherwise, we wouldn’t get to enjoy this cocktail that simply screams Christmas.

Maybe you celebrate Christmas or know someone that celebrates Christmas. Or maybe you just love eggnog. Either way, this drink is a delicious way to get into the holiday spirit this season. (Not really into eggnog? Check out these best wines for the holidays or these unforgettable Christmas cocktails.)

Here’s a brief look at the history of eggnog — and some of the best eggnog cocktails to enjoy this Christmas season.

A Story of How Eggnog Came to Be

Similar to many cocktails, it’s hard to pinpoint the exact origins of eggnog. Maybe that’s because it developed over time. Or maybe our history-makers drank too much eggnog themselves.

Either way, eggnog probably came to be in England centuries ago, and it was not the chilled drink we know and love today. Instead, it was a hot and — gasp — nonalcoholic concoction. The name apparently comes from two words: grog (another word for rum) and noggins (a word for the small wooden mugs that the drink was often served in).

It wasn’t until the 1700s when American colonists started drinking eggnog that it became an alcoholic drink. At this time, people began adding rum, which didn’t come with the hefty taxes that brandy and wine did. And naturally, Caribbean rum was easier to come by than Continental brandy and wine.

George Washington even crafted his own eggnog cocktail, which was heavy on alcohol and light on everything else. It contained ingredients like a quart of cream and a quart of milk, one dozen tablespoons of sugar, a full pint of brandy, ½ pint rye whiskey, ½ pint Jamaica rum, and ¼ pint sherry.

The only problem was that he never recorded how many eggs his recipe required (though most cooks in his time estimate about a dozen). 

These days, store-bought eggnog isn’t nearly as egg-heavy. This is because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration allows the drink to have as little as 1 percent egg yolk — an absolute travesty to eggnog purists.

3 Eggnog Recipes to Try at Home

Fortunately, you can make delicious versions of eggnog in your own at-home bar. Here are three of the best eggnog cocktails to spice up your holiday season.

For the Traditionalists: Homemade Traditional Eggnog

If you don’t want to mess with the classic eggnog recipe, this traditional version should do the trick. If you have the ability to beat some eggs and have access to the basic kitchen essentials, this recipe is perfect for you.

This recipe is perfect for parties, as it yields 16 servings.

Ingredients:

• 6 large eggs, separated
• ½ cup superfine sugar, divided
• 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• ½ tsp. grated nutmeg (plus more for garnish)
• ¼ tsp. kosher salt
• 2 cups brandy
• 1 cup milk

Directions:

1. Beat egg yolks, ¼ cup of sugar, vanilla extract, nutmeg, and salt until the mixture is very thick and has a light yellow color.
2. Slowly beat in milk and brandy.
3. Cover and chill in the refrigerator overnight.
4. Just before serving, beat the egg whites to soft peaks.
5. Slowly beat in the remaining ¼ cup sugar, and beat this mixture to soft peaks again. This will create a meringue-like cream.
6. Gradually pour this cream over the chilled brandy mixture, folding it in gently.
7. Serve eggnog in a mug, punch cup, or Irish coffee glass.
8. Grate nutmeg over your drink for garnish.

For the Rum Lovers: Traditional Rum Eggnog

If you love rum — or you’re looking for something a little sweeter — the traditional rum eggnog cocktail is sure to please. If you want to tone down some of that egg taste, this cocktail also comes with some extra flavors from almond and vanilla extracts.

This recipe is perfect for a night at home, as it yields one cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 1 large egg, separated
• 2 tsp. superfine sugar, divided
• 1 ounce heavy cream
• ½ tsp. pure almond extract
• ½ tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1 ½ ounces aged rum
• Grated cinnamon and nutmeg, for garnish

Directions:

1. Separate the egg into two bowls.
2. Beat the yolk with a hand mixer until stiff.
3. Beat the egg white with 1 tsp. sugar until peaks form.
4. Gently fold the whites and yolk together using a spoon.
5. In a separate bowl, beat the cream with the vanilla and almond extracts and the remaining tsp of sugar until stiff.
6. Gradually fold the cream into the mixture.
7. Add rum, and stir gently.
8. Refrigerate overnight (or serve immediately over ice).
9. Garnish with grated nutmeg and cinnamon.

For the Bourbon Lovers: Traditional Bourbon Eggnog

We would be remiss if we didn’t offer an eggnog cocktail for our bourbon lovers. This is still a variety of the traditional recipe, but it’s loaded with flavor. The added liquors throw in even more spices, and it’s perfect for a small gathering or on your own.

This recipe is perfect for a small gathering, as it yields 8 servings.

Ingredients:

• 4 large eggs
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
• ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
• ⅛ tsp. ground allspice
• ⅛ tsp. ground cloves
• 4 ounces bourbon whiskey
• 2 ounces cognac
• 2 ounces brandy-based orange liqueur
• 12 ounces whole milk
• 8 ounces heavy cream
• Grated cinnamon or nutmeg for garnish

Directions:

1. Using a mixer with a whip attachment or a blender, blend the eggs for one minute.
2. Add the sugar, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and cinnamon; blend for 30 more seconds to mix.
3. Gradually add the bourbon, cognac, and orange liqueur; blend for another 30 seconds.
4. Add the milk and cream; blend for another minute.
5. Cover and refrigerate.
6. To serve, portion out 4 ounces of eggnog into a champagne flute or teacup.
7. Garnish with cinnamon or nutmeg.

Enjoy a Glass of Eggnog This Christmas Season — Or Any Day

The holiday season is a great time to experiment with new cocktails. If you love the idea of Christmas in a cup, give eggnog a try. Serve it up at a holiday party, or enjoy some with a special someone by the fire.

Don’t forget to stock up on holiday essentials while you’re at it, like these fantastic corporate gift ideas for your favorite coworkers. Or how about these great dad gifts for those dads who already have it all? And follow us on Pinterest for more cocktail ideas this holiday season!

Which eggnog recipe are you going to try this Christmas?