Because it was George Washington’s favorite drink.

Thank you for reading! This article has been provided for you courtesy of me, an avid writer for Cook’n.

Oh, you’re still here? You want to learn more about eggnog? Okay, let’s go!

Apparently, George Washington had a particular fondness for eggnog, and he even had his own boozy recipe for it. His version included brandy, rye whiskey, rum, and sherry. It's a wonder he managed to lead a revolution with all that alcohol, but hey, we won.

Here is a version of George Washington’s recipe that I haven’t even bothered to put into a Cook’n recipe because, let’s face it, it’s way too boozy for me. Here it is, straight from the 18th century.

George Washington’s Eggnog:

- 1 quart cream

- 1 quart milk

- 12 tablespoons sugar

- 1 pint brandy

- 1/2 pint rye whiskey

- 1/2 pint Jamaica rum

- 1/4 pint sherry

- 12 large eggs (separated into yolks and whites)

Instructions:

1. Mix the liquor first.

2. Separate the egg whites and yolks.

3. Add the sugar to the beaten yolks, mix well.

4. Add the combined liquors slowly to the yolk and sugar mixture.

5. Add the milk and cream, blending slowly.

6. Beat the egg whites until stiff and fold slowly into the mixture.

7. Let set in a cool place for several days. Taste frequently. Very frequently.

A Quick History of Eggnog

Eggnog has its roots in medieval Europe, where it was called "posset." It was a hot, milky, ale-like drink. When it made its way to the American colonies, rum was used as a substitute for the ale, and eventually, it evolved into the eggnog we (or rather, Washington) knew.

As for how often and on what occasions he drank it, well, historical records don't give us a detailed drinking log of George Washington's eggnog habits. But given the effort he put into perfecting his recipe, it's safe to say he enjoyed it, and he enjoyed it often. It was a personal, proud recipe as well as a social drink.

So Why is Eggnog a Holiday Drink?

I’ve written about this in detail before in my article about pumpkin spice, so I won’t belabor the point too much here. The quick version is that back in the day, Asian spices (i.e. ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, anise, black pepper, etc) were incredibly expensive and hard to come by. For someone to enjoy one of these spices was to indulge in some pretty pricey cuisine. Because of this, spiced foods and drinks were primarily enjoyed by society’s elite. For peasants like me to enjoy them, I’d have to save up for several months, and perhaps pool my resources with friends or family to get a portion of just one of these spices.

And you know what? There’s no better time to splurge and fancy food than the holidays. And back then, especially religious holidays like Christmas. Thus, fancy Asian spices became associated primarily with cold months and year-end holidays, and fancy drinks like eggnog became nothing more than a holiday drink.

But for me personally? I want to enjoy some eggnog the way Washington did: by celebrating my liberties and a revolution well won. So who cares if the months are still hot? Grab a cup of eggnog with me!

    Matthew Christensen
    Weekly Newsletter Contributor since 2023
    Email the author! matthew@dvo.com