Guide Note

Eggnog is a sweetened dairy-based beverage made with milk, cream, sugar, beaten eggs and spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg. Popular in Europe and the Americas during the winter holiday season, eggnog is often served blended with brandy, rum, cognac or bourbon.

Fast Facts

1. Originated from "posset," a medieval hot milk beverage
2. Soy varieties are available for vegetarians
3. Popular Christmas drink
4. The most popular eggnog in Russia is made from caviar
5. In the early Americas, rum was included to replace the heavily taxed brandy
6. Most often served "on the rocks"

Homemade eggnog can be made with or without alcohol. The widely recognized cocktail by the International Bartenders Association is Brandy Egg Nog, consisting of five parts milk, four parts brandy, one part Gomme syrup and a raw egg yolk.

Cream can be substituted for some of the milk to make it thicker and frothier, if desired. Several brands offer soy-based eggnog for vegans, though pre-packaged alcoholic soy eggnog products are not available.