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Hold on to your socks with this homemade old-school eggnog recipe from Mount Vernon, George Washington’s estate. There’s a good story to go with it,too.
Eggnog was certainly popular during colonial times. Brought over fromBritain (and going back to medieval times), eggnogwas a special-occasion drink due to its ingredients (milk, eggs, alcohol), which were quite expensive at the time.
According to kitchen records, George Washington served an eggnog-like drink loaded with alcohol to visitors at Mount Vernon. Below is his recipe, supposably penned in his own hand. We added ingredient amounts since folks tended to estimate back then.
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George Washington EggnogRecipe
“One-quart cream, one-quart milk, one dozen tablespoons sugar, one-pint brandy, ½ pint rye whiskey, ½ pint Jamaica rum, ¼ pint sherry – mix liquor first, then separate yolks and whites of 12 eggs, add sugar to beaten yolks, mix well.
Add milk and cream, slowly beating. Beat whites of eggs until stiff and fold slowly into mixture. Let set in cool place for several days. Taste frequently.”
So, is this Washington’s recipe in his own hand? Although widely circulated as being true, it isn’t very likely.We contacted Mount Vernon’s librarians, who said no eggnog recipe has been definitively linked to Washington. It did not come from George or Martha Washington’s papers. It was not in Martha’s cookbook (which she inherited from her first marriage), nor was it provided in her personal copy of TheArt of CookerybyHannah Glasse, the popular English cookbook in America at thetime.
The recipe above is indeed a true vintage recipe. However, it is believed to have come from the 19th century, whereas George Washingtonlived in the 18thcentury.
Mount Vernon EggnogRecipe
Wedo have another homemadeeggnog recipe kindly shared by Mount Vernon, as eggnogwas indeed a popular drink in thelatter half of the 18thcentury.
We’ve slightly adapted this recipe to make the ingredient amounts clear. We recommend preparing the mixture a day in advance so it’s well chilled. It’s wellworth it! The grocery store stuff isn’t even the sameanimal.
Ingredients:
- 12 eggs (pasteurized if possible), roomtemperature
- 1/2 cupsugar
- One-fifth bourbon (750mlbottle)*
- 1/2 teaspoonsalt
- 1-quart whippingcream
- Optional: 1 cupmilk
- 1 to 2 teaspoons nutmeg, freshly grated (notground)
*Note: You can adjust the amount of alcohol in this recipe or omitit altogether. Or, use a different alcohol on hand; common choices include brandy, rum, bourbon, or whisky. One eggnog recipe we enjoy (from the 1950s) uses “1 cup bourbon and 1 cup Cognac” instead of the one-fifthbourbon.
Directions:
- Separate the egg whites and yolks very carefully, ensuring there is no yolk in the whites. Cover the egg whites and store them in therefrigerator.
- Whisk egg yolks and sugar in a large bowl. (Or, use an electric or stand mixture with a whisk attachment.) Whip until thick and smooth; it should be lemon yellow in color in 5 to 7minutes.
- Slowly add the desired alcohol to a large bowl while beating at a slow speed. Scrape down the side of the bowl. Chill mixture for several hours orovernight.
- In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites and salt until almoststiff.
- Whip the cream untilstiff.
- Fold the whipped cream into the yolk mixture, then fold in the beaten egg whites. Chill for onehour.
- When ready to serve, sprinkle the top with freshly grated nutmeg. Serve in punch cups with aspoon.
- Add 1 cup of milk to the yolk mixture for a thinner eggnog ifdesired.
MoreRecipes
- It turns out George Washington WAS known to make a cherry bounce, a brandy-based drink also popular in the eighteenth century. We can say, in complete confidence, that this festive alcoholic drink recipe is straight from the Washingtons; it was ahand-written recipe card in Martha Washington’s notebook.Discover George Washington’s Cherry Bounce.
- Prefer a non-alcoholic eggnog? Here’s a recipe for Non-Alcoholic Eggnog.
- Need a Christmas cake to wash that down?Here’sMarthaWashington’s “Great Cake”recipebakedfor celebrating what she called “a true Virginia Christmas” at MountVernon.
See 10 Christmas Drink and co*cktail Recipes!
FAQs
“One-quart cream, one-quart milk, one dozen tablespoons sugar, one-pint brandy, ½ pint rye whiskey, ½ pint Jamaica rum, ¼ pint sherry – mix liquor first, then separate yolks and whites of 12 eggs, add sugar to beaten yolks, mix well. Add milk and cream, slowly beating.
Did George Washington like egg nog? ›
George Washington is the father of our country — but he also knew how to mix a party-starter of a co*cktail. Mount Vernon shared the Founding Father's famous eggnog recipe with Axios — a common (and very boozy) 18th-century creation the Washingtons enjoyed.
Why does eggnog only sold around Christmas? ›
In the 1700s, rum from the Caribbean was the American eggnog alcohol of choice. But it was scarce during the revolution, so it was traded out for moonshine. This might explain why it became associated with the Christmas season. It warmed up drinkers in the cold weather, and true eggnog called for expensive liquor.
What is the trivia question about eggnog? ›
Did it originate in France, Turkey or the United Kingdom? Answer: Eggnog was originally known as milk punch or egg milk punch and originated in the United Kingdom. The name "eggnog" is an American term that can be traced to the 1700's.
Who was the first person to drink eggnog? ›
Culinary historians have traced the origins of egg-nog to the medieval British punch called “posset,” warm milk curdled with alcohol such as wine or beer, flavored with spices. In medieval Europe, monks added their own twist by serving posset with figs and eggs.
What does nog stand for in eggnog? ›
The English name's etymology however remains a mystery. Some say “nog” comes from “noggin,” meaning a wooden cup, or “grog,” a strong beer. By the late 18th century, the combined term “eggnog” stuck.
Who was George Washington's crush? ›
However, records – and centuries of gossip– draw attention to a beautiful woman in Washington's past. Her name is Sally Cary Fairfax.
What was George Washington's favorite snack? ›
George Washington: Nuts and Dried Fruit The first president of the United States, George Washington, was quite partial to a mix of nuts and dried fruit. Given the preservation methods of the time, dried fruits such as figs and raisins were convenient snacks. Combined with nuts, they provided a nutritious energy source.
What state drinks the most eggnog? ›
Floridians are expected to consume 78.2 million spiked eggnogs over the holiday season, according to a survey released by WealthofGeeks.com.
Why is egg nog so expensive? ›
Canadian chef Heidi Fink states that one of the reasons people are making less homemade eggnog is that the beverage is expensive to make, due to its use of substantial quantities of cream, eggs, and spirits.
It was thought that the use of “luxury” ingredients such as cream and alcohol would invite prosperity into the household for the coming year. In most households today, a cup of eggnog ushers in the good cheer of the holiday more so than any belief in impending wealth.
Can you buy eggnog in the summer? ›
Eggnog can be all year or all season: your choice!
Part of what makes eggnog so fun is all the stuff that you can pair it with.
What is the disease in eggnog? ›
Is it time to update your eggnog recipes to avoid the risk of foodborne illness? Refrigerated eggs with clean, uncracked shells can still be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. Eggs must be cooked to 160 degrees F to kill bacteria such as Salmonella that may be present.
What country was the first to serve eggnog? ›
While no one knows who invented eggnog, most historians and foodies generally agree eggnog originated in medieval Britain. The upper classes were the only ones to have access to the milk, sherry, and eggs required to make the first version of eggnog, so it began as an exclusive beverage.
Why is eggnog so addictive? ›
The role of sugar in eggnog
Sugar's addictive properties have been studied, and ice cream mix used to make eggnog contains its fair share, both from the milk sugar lactose and from added sugars.
What was the original eggnog made of? ›
"While culinary historians debate its exact lineage, most agree eggnog originated from the early medieval" British drink called posset, which was made with hot milk that was curdled with wine or ale and flavored with spices.
What is the traditional alcohol for eggnog? ›
While brandy is the most traditional alcohol to pair with eggnog, according to traditional recipes, you can also use a mixture of dark rum and Cognac. If you like your eggnog with more of a kick you can also add bourbon, but we recommend sticking to rum and Cognac to preserve the 'nog's flavors.
What's the difference between old fashioned and traditional eggnog? ›
So what IS the difference between Darigold Classic and Old Fashioned Eggnog? 🤔 Our Classic eggnog has 6% butterfat and is spiced simply with nutmeg, whereas our Old Fashioned is creamier with a higher butterfat and is spiced with nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger.
What is modern day eggnog made of? ›
Today, eggnog is usually made of some combination of eggs (either just the yolks or the yolks and the whipped egg whites), sugar, milk, cream, nutmeg, and sometimes booze. We're all familiar with the cartons of store-bought eggnog that grace supermarkets every December.
