Eggnog can trace its roots back as far as the fourteenth century , when medieval Englishman savor a blistering cocktail recognise asposset . Posset did n’t contain eggs — the Oxford English Dictionary describes it as “ a drinkable made of red-hot milk curdled with ale , wine-colored , or the like , often dulcify and spiced”—but over the years eggs join in on the festive fun .
While the egg - laden adaptation of posset was popular with English drinkers , it became less unwashed as clock time went by . Milk and eggs were both scarce and expensive , and the sherry and Madeira used to lace the mixture was pricey , too . Over time , the concoction became a drink that onlyaristocratscould really afford .
All of that changed in the American colonies , though . What the settlers miss in parliamentary representation they made up for in easy admittance to dairy farm product andliquor .
Since many Americans had their own chickens and dairy farm cattle , tossing together a glass of eggnog was no job , and the drink ’s popularity soared among the colonists even as it sagged back home .
This disparity in the drink ’s popularity on either side of the pond endures to this day ; eggnog ’s popularity in the UK still lags far behind its vacation ubiquitousness in the States . Here ’s how theGuardian ’s Andrew Shanahan memorably described the drink in 2006 : “ People seldom get it right-hand , but even if you do it still tastes horrible . The smell is like an omelet and the consistence dare belief . It lurches around the glass like partially - sentient goo . ” Yum ?
Using Your Noggin
The wordeggnogitself has fairly murky origins , but many etymologist think the name stems from the wordnoggin , which referred to small wooden mugs that were often used to process this type of drink . Others declare oneself a similar narrative but explain thatnogcomes from Norfolk slang and refers to the strong ales that were often served in these cups . Still others think the name is a contraction of compound Americans ’ request to bartenders for an “ egg - and - grog ” when they want a glass .
moreover , while the deglutition itself may date back to gothic time , eggnogis a comparatively recent invention . The first record instances of the use ofeggnogonly appointment back to the tardy eighteenth century , and by that time , bartender in the young United States had already pick off the formula to give it a more American twirl . The Madeira and sherry that English aristocrats had used for their version of eggnog were scarce on the other side of the pool , but Americans had plenty of rummy and whiskey . In 1800 , author Isaac Weld , Jr.describedthe American recipe for eggnog as dwell of “ raw milk , eggs , rum , and sugar , dumbfound up together . ”
Have One for George Washington
Yes , former Americans be intimate their eggnog , and you could use this fact to your reward if you down a few too many glasses during theholidays . Simply indicate out that you ’re in good ship’s company with the likes ofGeorge Washington . Kitchen records from Mount Vernon argue that Washington served an eggnog - similar boozing to visitor , and since the general was n’t strapped for cash , he did n’t skimp on the sauce . Washington’spotent recipeincluded three unlike types of booze : Secale cereale whiskey , rummy , and sherry . Nobody could tell a lie after having a few cup of that .
Not everyone had Washington ’s funds , though . A thorough look athistorical recipesreveals that for most tipplers , the case of booze they mouse into their nog did n’t really weigh as long as there was something to give it a little kick . In addition to rummy , ale , whisky , and vino , an 1879 collection of recipes from Virginia features a one that calls for 12 testicle , eight wine-colored - glass of brandy , and four vino - glassfuls of wine-coloured . Another calls for three XII testis , half a gallon of domesticated brandy , and another half - dry pint of French brandy .
You Might Not Want to Read the Label
If you pick up a cartonful of commercial eggnog at the supermarket , you ’re believably get much more peg than egg . FDA regulations only need that 1.0 pct of a product ’s terminal exercising weight be made up of egg yolk solids for it to abide the eggnog name . For “ eggnog season milk , ” the bar is even grim ; in addition to requiring less butterfat in the recipe , this recording label only requires 0.5 percent egg yolk solids in the carton .
Of course , there are other good reasons why we do n’t tippytoe back eggnog yr - circular . for sure , nobody ’s reaching for a nice cupful of something custardy on a hot 24-hour interval , but it ’s not very good for you at all . A one - cup ( 8 - ounce)servingof store - corrupt eggnog tout 224 calories , 10.6 gram of fatty tissue , and 150 mg of cholesterol . ( If you ’re keep scotch at home plate , that’shalfof the recommended daily inhalation of cholesterol . )
If you choose to shun these commercial brand in favour ofmixing up your own eggnog , you ’ll probably desire to use pasteurized egg to suppress the risk of exposure of a foul case ofSalmonella ; not even a playlist have “ Do They Know It ’s Christmas ? ” ruin a vacation party quite as quickly as making everyone in attending violently ill . Do n’t utilise unpasteurized eggs under the older argument of “ the booze will kill the microbe , ” either . The FDA give notice that this strategy is n’t probable to work .
An Unhealthy Obsession
Nutritional information aside , eggnog still has a strong following among holiday drinkers . It ’s grueling to top the devotion deal by a Virginia father and Word in the belated 19th one C , though . In 1900,Good Housekeepingran a level about the Christmas - morning eggnog tradition of Virginia , and it included this anecdote :
“ So sacredly is this custom of the eggnog drinking abide by that Judge Garnett of Mathews County tells a story of rushing in on Christmas morning to warn his father that the family was on fire . The quondam valet first led his son to the breakfast mesa and ladled out his meth of eggnog , drank one with him , then work to care for the burning building . ”
True or not , the level certainly emphasize the magical power of eggnog . Nobody ’s braving a burning building to have a cup of fruit biff or spiced cider .
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A version of this account ran in 2015 ; it has been update for 2024 .
