Christmas time is here, no eggnog is near.
Ev'ry jolly little lush is gripped with mortal fear.
I like eggnog. By "eggnog", I don't mean that overly-sweet, extract-flavored stuff you get in grocery stores. It might be okay for the kids, but it's not the real thing. The real thing is, of course, a rich tipple of eggs, dairy, and liquors. The best eggnogs are made in huge batches, using at least a dozen eggs, but if you're the only one in your family who likes eggnog, that can be a waste.
| Ingredients | |
|---|---|
| Batter | |
| Egg | 1 |
| Heavy Cream | 1.5 ounces |
| Confectioner's Sugar | 1 1/2 Tablespoon |
| Cinnamon | 1/4 teaspoon |
| Liquor | |
| Rum | 1 ounce |
| Brandy or Whiskey | 1 ounce |
| Other | |
| Ice, not crushed | as needed |
| Nutmeg | for garnish |
Before we go any further, to make this, you must have a shaker. It doesn't have to be a "real" cocktail shaker. I use a huge coffee mug that can be sealed at the top so it doesn't spill. There are a lot of single-serve recipes for eggnog, and I've tried several, but they all have fallen short of the glory that is the gigantic bowl of 'nog. I think I know why. The single-serve recipes are for bartenders, who have to make a drink quickly. They follow a different order of operations and use ingredients that are easier to measure out quickly. While flavor might be (almost) preserved, texture takes a big loss that is only partially made up for by using a bar shaker. You can froth a thin liquid all you like and it will never really be heavy cream. This recipe has extra steps and extra time, but the results are worth it.
Put all the batter ingredients into the shaker, in order. Don't worry if the cream sticks to your shot glass, you can rinse the residue into the shaker with the liquors. Shake hard for about 30 seconds. Add the liquors. Shake hard for another 30 seconds. Add ice and shake another 30 seconds. Strain into glass, garnish with nutmeg.
This will be every bit as thick and rich as a top-notch punchbowl eggnog. Enjoy. Be warned: It will be much stronger than you think it is, so take your time.
