Each year growing up my dad would begin his quest of finding his holiday spirit the week
before Thanksgiving. It came in the form of a gallon jug filled to the brim with his “famous (or perhaps infamous) eggnog.” He’d make a few trips to the garage throughout the days leading up to the holiday where the drink was set to ferment, checking on its progress and usually adding in a little more rum each time.
Throughout the years, family, friends and anyone that sipped the seasonal beverage would rave about it. Maybe that was because if you had enough of it with the amount of liquor inside, everything started to taste good. The idea of a drink consisting of raw egg and heavy cream didn’t really appeal to me. I never even gave it a try until a few years back. But now, I can’t image the holiday season without it.
We’re holding onto the family tradition of making the first batch before Thanksgiving so that it can be enjoyed on turkey day and the evenings that follow. But there is still time to make round two, or your very first one, right on time for Christmas.
So here it is – my dad’s special eggnog recipe, perfected over the decades. But I do have to warn you, this drink packs a punch!
Ingredients
12 eggs
½ cup sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 quart heavy cream
1 quart milk
2-3 cups of bourbon depending on your preference (you can always start with two and add
more later). Also, you'll want to make sure you use a top-shelf bourbon and not the cheap stuff because you're really going to taste it.
1 cup rum
Directions
1. Crack open 12 eggs, separating egg whites and the yellow yokes into two separate bowls
2. Beat egg whites until stiff then add in ½ cup sugar and ¼ teaspoon salt
3. Add in the yellow egg yokes and mix until thoroughly blended
4. Beat one quart of heavy cream in separate bowl. Add into egg mixture.
5. Add one quart of milk into egg mixture, along with 2-3 cups of bourbon. Beat well.
6. Add in one cup of rum and mix lightly.
7. Pour into a large gallon jug.
8. Store in refrigerator or cold cellar for one week before enjoying.
a. I’m not entirely sure how long it is supposed to keep, as it never lasted around my house, but from what we’ve read, eggnog looks to peak around week three.
9. Shake or stir thoroughly before serving.
10. Add nutmeg when served.
Enjoy! And don't drive anywhere...
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