Bailey’s Eggnog Recipe

 

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Between all the Christmas lights getting switched on, open-air icerinks opening and the stunning festive windows, Christmas seems to come earlier and earlier to London. But it’s my favourite time of the year and when London is at its best. It’s actually enjoyable to be snuggled up and cosy, making the most of the festivities.

Being a Londoner, festivities naturally mean an alcoholic beverage. I usually favour Bailey’s but last winter I was partial to a hot toddy. A couple of weeks ago, I tried eggnog for the very first time at EatFirst’s Festive Feast. Chef Benn Hodges whipped up his special Aussie version which went down very well with our party.

Having piqued my interest, I wanted to start looking into eggnog a little before the festive season get into full swing. Apparently eggnog was one of George Washington’s favourite tipples; he made it himself and even aged it for a few days to let the flavour mellow. While I appreciate his enthusiasm and commitment, I feel like President Washington may have taken his eggnog a little too seriously..!

A classic eggnog is a fairly straightforward drink which calls for a base of rum mixed together with egg, milk and nutmeg. Some eggnog recipes jazz it up with double cream, condensed milk or cinnamon sticks. I found a very tempting Bailey’s Eggnog recipe. This is essentially my dream Christmas cocktail – warm, comforting eggnog combined with my festive favourite Bailey’s. I whipped it up this weekend and wanted to share the recipe with you:

Ingredients:

• 35ml Baileys Original Irish Cream Liqueur

• 1 tablespoon of caster sugar

• 1 egg

• 75ml milk

• 1 split vanilla pod

• 1 cinnamon stick

• A sprinkle of nutmeg

Method:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together 1 egg and 1tbsp caster sugar until creamy and the sugar begins to dissolve

2. Mix in 35ml Baileys Original Irish Cream Liqueur and 75ml milk. Stir in the seeds from a vanilla pod, scraped out with a teaspoon.

3. Using a grater, grate the sides of a whole nutmeg into the bowl.

4. With a cocktail strainer, strain the mixture into a Cognac glass.

5. Garnish with a cinnamon stick, placed inside the glass at an angle.

For more Christmas cocktails check out Diageo’s site, thebar.com.