We lately received a query to the Hotline that requested concerning the correct time to make eggnog. I hope you’re sitting down, as a result of my reply may shock you: The perfect time to make the eggnog you’ll drink on Christmas is on Thanksgiving—and even Halloween. That’s proper, the perfect nog is an aged nog.
Wait, what? Why Would I Age Eggnog?
The previous couple of vacation seasons, my dad has develop into a little bit of an “eggnog man.” I shudder even typing these phrases. As quickly as Thanksgiving ends, it isn’t unusual to see him pre and/or submit dinner with a hefty glass of store-bought eggnog spiked with low-cost brandy. After making an attempt a glass, I wrote off eggnog as a glass of thick, cloying dairy drink with a pointy sting of alcohol. That was till one 12 months, as a deal with, I made a decision to do a little analysis and make him the last word selfmade nog. I found that, along with whipping the eggs your self, letting your eggnog age within the fridge for anyplace from 2 weeks to some months was the surest technique to make a cocktail that you just received’t simply be craving on the holidays, however virtually each evening.
Getting older your nog provides a deep complexity in taste completely different from my earlier overly heavy and candy eggnog. Much more excitingly, it mellows out the tough chunk of the alcohol. And perhaps the perfect half? You’ll have one much less factor to prep throughout the busy weeks main as much as the vacations.
The Science
Now I do know lots of you’re scrolling as quick as you may to the feedback to ask about consuming uncooked eggs or to say that the drink will spoil after that lengthy. And I am going to say your hesitation is completely legitimate! The College of Minnesota estimates that 1 in each ~3,300 cartons of American eggs will comprise some degree of salmonella. And whereas I can’t 100%, totally assure that there’s zero danger, Rockefeller College has run their very own eggnog examine that has proven that an eggnog with at the least 20 p.c alcohol by quantity drastically diminishes your danger as soon as it has been within the fridge for twenty-four hours. So don’t simply belief me, belief the eggnog obsessed scientists!
I discover the perfect size of time for getting older is anyplace between two weeks and two months, although there’s a subset of nog-heads that make a batch on December twenty sixth to be consumed the next Christmas. I urge you to experiment and discover your comfortable medium. I drink mine inside six months.
Getting older works for any eggnog recipe, however I discover the perfect outcomes come from combining the egg yolk, sugar, nutmeg, and alcohol, then storing that combination and solely including the dairy on the day you propose to drink it. This may lead to a extra mellow, barely more energizing consuming expertise.
If you wish to go the additional mile, freeze the egg whites you separate, and on the day you need to serve the nog, thaw them, whip them to stiff peaks, and whisk them into the eggnog for an additional luxurious vacation consuming expertise.
My Go To Recipe
Separate a dozen eggs, freezing the egg whites. Whisk the yolks with 2 teaspoons of freshly grated nutmeg and 1lb (~ 2 ¼ cups) of sugar till the sugar is totally absorbed and the combination has taken on a pale yellow colour. Whisk in 3 cups of your most well-liked eggnog alcohol (I like equal components bourbon, brandy, and darkish rum). Place this combination in an hermetic container, and retailer in your fridge for 2 weeks to 2 months.
The day earlier than you need to drink, thaw your egg whites and whip to stiff peaks both with a hand mixer or with a stand mixer with a whisk attachment.
In a big bowl, whisk collectively the aged combination and a quart every of complete milk and heavy cream. Lastly whisk within the egg whites till integrated. Serve in chilled mugs and garnish with extra nutmeg.
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