Bourbon Eggnog Recipe | Perfect Bourbon Eggnog Cocktail

Pumpkin spice drinks during fall have become more than popular; they are now part of the zeitgeist. A similar drink came out a long time ago. Eggnog is the winter drink. When you use it to make a bourbon eggnog recipe, things get even better.

Feel the warmth of tradition and alcohol with this bourbon eggnog recipe that makes eggnog the perfect winter cocktail. The holiday season brings with it store transformations.

Every year, store shelves around the country are transformed into holiday havens filled with traditional items from decor to food. One could be excused for missing the fact that eggnog is only sold during two months of the year, every year.

This drink has become synonymous with the holiday season. The first cartons of eggnog will hit the shelves, usually in mid-October, though that gets earlier and earlier every year.

Some people love eggnog so much they have resorted to making their own eggnog at home. There’s nothing to worry about with this drink made from raw eggs; more on that later.

We don’t have to wait until eggnog hits the shelves to enjoy a bourbon eggnog cocktail. Homemade eggnog can get the job done; homemade bourbon eggnog is far from risky.

In fact, some might say that a delicious bourbon eggnog is what makes the holiday season. The first time this delightful mixture passes your lips will be eye-opening. You may even ask where eggnog has been all this time.

The answer will always be at the grocery store between October and December.

Why is an Easy Bourbon Eggnog Recipe Seasonal

There is someone to blame for eggnog not being on the shelves all year long: you. We are all to blame. Eggnog recipes with a cinnamon stick must wait until the holiday season. Eggnog was always a drink that was mixed with alcohol.

However, rum was the standard choice before bourbon. Unfortunately, rum was scarce during the 1700s, so only the wealthy could drink the cocktail at other times of the year.

The drink was then mixed with moonshine instead, giving more people the warmth of an eggnog cocktail. People used this cocktail, like a cup of hot chocolate, to soothe and warm them up during winter. What holiday occurs during winter?

Christmas and that is how eggnog ended up being sold during winter months only. Why are we to blame? Well, our forefathers are to blame for not purchasing eggnog during summer, forcing eggnog makers to stop making it until winter.

It has become a tradition and part of the winter season, and we can’t touch tradition.

Winter Bourbon Cocktail Ingredients

• Eggs: We need egg yolks to make eggnog, but what do we do with the egg whites? Luckily, this recipe uses both the yolks and the whites, just separately. The yolks will go in the nog, and the whites will go in the meringue.
• Sugar: We need sugar to help sweeten the drink. This sugar should be plain white sugar or any brand. It will help make the bourbon drink a sweeter cocktail everyone (of age) can enjoy.
• Whole Milk: This is one of the ingredients that helps level out the drink, making it easier to enjoy. We can make this recipe dairy-free by using almond milk instead. Almond milk is a bit sweeter than milk naturally. You may want to reduce the sugar a bit if you plan on using almond milk.
• Heavy Cream: The yolks will be creamy on their own, but eggnog requires a different type of creaminess. This bourbon eggnog recipe uses heavy cream to add even more creaminess. 
• Bourbon: We get to wing it on the alcohol in this cocktail. Of course, we want bourbon since that is now the classic cocktail. However, we can use any bourbon we’d like.
• Cinnamon: Every good cocktail has a garnish. This perfect cocktail uses cinnamon as a garnish. We take things a little further with a meringue that turns it into a festive cocktail.

How to Make a Bourbon Eggnog Cocktail

• Separate 4 egg yolks and place them in a saucepan. Set aside the egg whites for the meringue later on. Whisk in sugar to the yolk until it is fully incorporated and creamy.
• Add in the whole milk and heavy cream and stir.

• Place on the stove on medium heat. Whisk frequently until the mixture reaches a temperature of 170-180 F using an instant-read thermometer.
• Remove from heat and stir in cinnamon and bourbon. Cool in a cold water bath, whisking it from time to time to help it cool.

• Once it reaches room temperature, transfer it to a glass pitcher to chill in the refrigerator for a few hours until thoroughly chilled.

How to Make the Meringue

• Take the egg whites you put aside and whisk until soft white peaks form.
• Then, add sugar and whisk until firmer peaks form, and then it is the consistency of shaving cream.

• Remove your thoroughly chilled custard base and whisk in the meringue until thoroughly blended. Place it back in the refrigerator until chilled for another 30 minutes.
• Whisk eggnog again before serving and between each pour to ensure even distribution of egg whites.
• Serve with a dusting of cinnamon and cinnamon bark.
• Enjoy!

Tips for Serving Big Batch Eggnog Cocktails

​This easy bourbon eggnog recipe will most likely be served during a holiday party or gathering, so we will need enough to satisfy a crowd. The easiest way to do this is to multiply the directions for the amount you want, then mix it all in a large bowl.

We can even give people options for garnishes by having some ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, or even pumpkin spice near the bowl. People can pour themselves a glass and then sprinkle any topping they’d like.

The meringue will be the most challenging part. Just have a separate large mixing bowl with meringue for people to add to their cocktail. Even the guest who isn’t a fan of eggnog may feel compelled to try a glass.

This is definitely the best bourbon eggnog recipe out there, and it makes the perfect holiday cocktail. Lastly, you may not have enough time to make your own eggnog. There is nothing wrong with using store-bought eggnog for this perfect holiday drink.

A great way to pull flavor from the drink is to make it fresh. However, we don’t all have time for that when planning our holiday parties. We do what we can to enjoy a delicious winter cocktail like this.

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