Holiday Eggnog and Milk Punch

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Holiday Eggnog and Milk Punch 

When I was a child living in Arizona I remember my parents would always get a bottle of eggnog at Christmas time and it was such a treat for my brother and I to enjoy a glass. I also have fond memories of my Aunt Sally who would enjoy hers with a little Southern Comfort! No offense to the Southern Comfort folks but I think it pairs a lot better with a nice aged rum. Eggnog has all of the flavors of winter baking spices in it and as we all know rum is the perfect partner with cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. If you don’t want to purchase the traditional grocery store kind you can also make your own, which I much prefer. It isn’t difficult and the end result is really delicious. I have included my own recipe below but keep in mind that you can personalize it however you wish. Eggnog can be served cold or hot, and I think an aged rum is the ideal addition. 

Here in the Midwest there is also something called a Tom and Jerry- - - growing up out west I had never heard about it but it’s quite popular during the holidays here. The Tom and Jerry is a cocktail created in the early 1800’s and is a twist on the traditional eggnog, served with brandy and rum, and served hot. Some say it was created by British journalist Pierce Egan, but there are also numerous accounts that Professor Jerry Thomas invented it, and named it after himself and his two pet mice, Tom and Jerry. Regardless, it is a classic Christmas milk punch and you can even find the “batter” in the frozen aisles of grocery stores during the months of November and  December. It takes a bit of time to make, but once you have the mix you can freeze it and the shelf life is indefinite. This can be served in a coffee mug, or made into a large punch bowl. 

I hope that you all have a wonderful holiday season, full of friends, family, great food and of course RUM :)

-Article written by Cris Dehlavi- 

My name is Cris Dehlavi and I am a native of Arizona, but have lived in Columbus, Ohio for the past 13 years with my daughter, Desi. I have been running the bar program at “M”, of the Cameron Mitchell Restaurant group since 2005. I am currently the President of Columbus USBG as well as a consultant for bars and restaurants nationally. In 2013, I attended the rigorous B.A.R. 5 Day Spirits Certification and have been recognized as one of the top mixologists in the U.S.A. I am one of the senior managers of the prestigious apprentice program at Tales of the Cocktail and work as a mentor to many bar tenders around Ohio. My contribution to "Got Rum?" magazine will include everything from reviews of national cocktail events, articles on mixology, garnish trends, recipes and techniques, to interviews with some of the leading bartenders in the industry.