I am awash in eggnog owing to an event that I’m involved with here in New Orleans that is celebrating eggnog in a variety of ways - as truffles, cupcakes, plated dessert, drinks, ice cream, etc. It seems that there is quite an extensive history of eggnog to uncover and then yesterday I happen to have spoken with a writer from Dallas who is looking into the old-school drink, the Tom and Jerry. The Tom and Jerry is said to be a traditional Christmas cocktail - a type of egg nog spiked with brandy and/or rum and served hot in a mug. Some versions call for stiffly beaten eggwhites, mixed together with with beaten yolks and sugar to which the hot iquid is added. Most cocktail experts agree that the name has nothing to do with the cartoon, but is possibly derived from Professor Jerry Thomas, the author of one of the first bartender’s guides, How to Mix Drinks (1862). Other theories are that the drin name is based on one of the principal characters in the early 19th-century novel, Life in London, or from Damon Runyon’s short story Dancing Dan‚Äôs Christmas:. I’ve tried EMERIL’S EGGNOG and it’s really yummy. It also works beautifully as a flavoring for cupcakes.

Filed Under: Wine & Libations