Our boozy Bourbon Eggnog recipe is both decadently delicious and ridiculously easy to make for just two people. In other words, the boozy Eggnog is an ideal cocktail if you want to celebrate the holiday season at home with somebody special.
Eggnog is the cocktail that we look forward to drinking every year. But it’s also a cocktail that we never made at home. Let’s face it, most Eggnog recipes involve punch bowls and excessive amounts of both cream and alcohol.
We decided to create a small-batch, boozy Eggnog recipe that we can enjoy in our Lisbon home. The challenge was real since we’re lazy mixologists who prefer to craft cocktails with quality ingredients but without blenders or fancy equipment.
We’re pleased as punch (pun intended) to report that we were successful in our mission. Not only is our homemade Eggnog recipe easy to make for just two people, but the boozy Christmas cocktail sips like a dream. We like it so much that we plan to drink it all year round.
Eggnog Cocktail History
We enjoy learning the origin stories of the various cocktails that we craft at home and the Eggnog is no exception. As it turns out, this drink’s history is as clear as a glass of the viscous beverage.
Some historians trace Eggnog back to the 15th century to England when monks drank Posset, a milky, spicy ale concoction while others connect it to British aristocrats who drank out of small wooden cups called noggins. However, nobody knows for sure when and where the popular milk punch was first imbibed.
Eggnog later achieved cult status across the pond in America where it’s become the star of Christmas parties throughout the country. Today, American grocery stores sell processed Eggnog mix, but, without doubt, the best Eggnog contains fresh, natural ingredients.
Fun Fact
Farmers and patriots made Eggnog with fresh farm products and distilled liquor back in the day. Records show that founding father George Washington followed an Eggnog drink recipe that included eggs, cream, milk, sugar, brandy, rye whiskey, Jamaican rum and sherry.
Bourbon Eggnog Ingredients
Despite its luxurious texture and nuanced flavor, a good Eggnog recipe doesn’t require that many ingredients. The following items are all that’s needed to whip up our Bourbon Eggnog recipe in just 10 minutes:
Eggnog recipes run the gamut when it comes to liquor. Mixologists include dark rum, spiced rum, brandy, cognac and whisky in their Eggnog drink recipes, often combining two or more of these liquors.
We use bourbon. The barrel aged liquor imparts vanilla and caramel notes to our Eggnog.
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We also add a splash of Cointreau to achieve a subtle hint of balancing orange acidity. Like many cocktails, Cointreau makes our Eggnog with bourbon recipe taste just a little bit better.
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Though most Eggnog recipes call for cheap liquor, we use top shelf bourbon and premium Cointreau liqueur. Since our recipe is small enough to justify using top quality liquor, you should do the same when deciding about the best bourbon for your Eggnog.
How to Craft Bourbon Eggnog for Two
We’re not the first to create an Eggnog recipe. Both Alton Brown and Martha Stewart beat us to the punch. (Pun intended again.)
However, you’ll want to follow our boozy Bourbon Eggnog for a couple reasons. First and most important, it tastes great. Almost as important, our recipe doesn’t require any special equipment like a blender or mixer.
You don’t even have to separate the eggs as required in most Eggnog recipes. It’s that easy.
The first step in our Bourbon Eggnog recipe is to vigorously whisk two raw eggs (both egg yolks and egg whites) in a medium mixing bowl. We like to use an 11-inch silicone ball whisk but any typical whisk will do. You can buy a whisk from Amazon if you need one or want to upgrade.
Are Raw Eggs Safe?
You may wonder if drinking raw eggs is safe. As in the case with other drink and food recipes, there’s a small but real risk of contracting a foodborne illness when consuming raw eggs. We’re comfortable with this risk but want to disclose the elephant ‘egg’ in the room.
The second step is to add sugar and continue whisking. Although some Eggnog recipes call for powdered sugar, we use granulated sugar in our recipe.
Using granulated sugar achieves a level of sweetness that’s not cloying. Plus, this type of sugar is a staple in our home kitchen.
After fully integrating the sugar with the eggs, the next step is to pour the dairy and liquor into the bowl. Since this recipe doesn’t require a blender or mixer, you can guess what to do next…
Yes, this Eggnog cocktail recipe requires a lot of whisking. And yes, it’s worth the effort for the drink’s ultra-creamy texture.
As a bonus, the recipe’s clean-up time is minimal without any blades or blenders to wash. By the time you’re done in the kitchen, the drink will be nicely chilled and ready for its final touch.
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Adding freshly grated nutmeg is the last step in our Bourbon Eggnog recipe. This traditional ingredient adds a nutty flavor and exotic aroma. Plus, nutmeg makes an Eggnog look like an Eggnog.
The end product is a drink that tastes like liquid dessert. Honestly, the recipe isn’t all that different from making custardy crème anglaise, a base for many French style ice creams and crème brûlée. But, unlike crème anglaise, this recipe has bourbon which makes it more festive.
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Eggnog Variations
We recommend starting with our recipe when you decide to make Eggnog at home for a small gathering of two people. Of course, you can double or triple the ingredients if your intimate party is four or six people.
Then, if you’re feeling creative, you can modify our alcoholic Eggnog recipe to make it your own. Here are some suggestions:
Pro Tip
We don’t recommend replacing the cream, milk or eggs since these are the ingredients that make the Eggnog taste like an Eggnog. Skip this recipe if you’re vegan, lactose intolerant or have an aversion to raw eggs. Instead, pretend like you’re at a German Christmas market and drink mulled wine in a festive mug.
Bourbon Eggnog FAQs
Typical liquors include dark rum, spiced rum, brandy, cognac and whisky. We use bourbon to craft our Bourbon Eggnog recipe.
Large Eggs, Granulated Sugar, Heavy Cream, Whole Milk, Nutmeg, Bourbon and Cointreau (optional)
Your favorite bourbon is the best bourbon for this cocktail recipe.
Since egg white is a key ingredient in this Bourbon Eggnog recipe, we recommend crafting a different drink if you’re averse to the ingredient.
This Bourbon Eggnog is shaken, not stirred.
We like to serve this cocktail in coupe glasses but you could use another type of glass instead.
Boozy Bourbon Eggnog Recipe
Bourbon Eggnog
Our boozy bourbon eggnog is so tasty that you'll want to make it again and again. Luckily, it's super easy to whip up at home with no special equipment required.
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 2/3 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup bourbon
- 1 splash Cointreau
- Fresh nutmeg for grating
Instructions
- Vigorously whisk two eggs in a medium mixing bowl until eggs are frothy.
- Slowly add sugar and continue to whisk the mixture until the sugar is incorporated.
- Add milk, cream, bourbon and Cointreau. Whisk until ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Chill mixture until ready to serve.
- Pour mixture into two glasses and grate nutmeg directly into each glass.
Notes
- Be aware that this recipe uses raw eggs which can harbor foodborne illness.
- We use stemless wine glasses in this recipe but small coupe or lowball glasses will work too.
- You can replace the bourbon with liquors like brandy and dark rum. While it will still taste good, the drink will no longer be a bourbon eggnog with these replacements.
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About the Authors
Daryl & Mindi Hirsch
Saveur Magazine’s BEST TRAVEL BLOG award winners Daryl and Mindi Hirsch share their culinary travel experiences and recipes on the 2foodtrippers website and YouTube. The married Food and Travel content creators live in Lisbon, Portugal.
Original Publication Date: November 29, 2020
Enok
Friday 25th of November 2022
1/3 cup of sugar in 2 drinks?? Holy pending diabetes Batman! 🤣🤣🤣
John Egan
Tuesday 7th of December 2021
Why not just use a food processor or blender?
Daryl and Mindi Hirsch
Wednesday 8th of December 2021
We're not against food processors or blenders but our goal with this recipe was to create a tasty cocktail without muss or fuss. We were pleased with the results but appreciate that you may prefer using this type of equipment when you craft eggnog at your home.