What is Egg Nog?
Travel Distilled asks the question: what is egg nog (or eggnog), which has become one of the USA’s favorite holiday drinks.
Is it Egg Nog, Egg-Nog or Eggnog?
You can spell it any way you like as there isn’t one agreed universal spelling.
Where is the Word Egg Nog From?
The answer to this, and to many other questions about egg nog, is that no-one knows. There are several theories for every question you might have about the drink, including this one.
One theory is that it derives from the British word ‘nog’, which was first used in the 17th century to refer to a strong beer that was made in the English region of East Anglia. Then again, it could have derived from the British word ‘noggin’, which was a drinking vessel.
Another possibility is that it’s a US word, as it was first recorded as being used in the USA in 1775. The ‘nog’ part meant strong ale, as in Britain, but obviously combined with an egg. About a hundred years later it was defined in one dictionary as a combination of wine, spirits, eggs, and sugar. The ale had disappeared and that recipe is closer to what we now know as egg nog.
What is Egg Nog Made From Today?
Recipes naturally vary, but the egg part will consist of egg yolks, whipped egg whites to make it frothy, sugar, milk, and cream to give it its rich flavor. The nog bit will probably have both wine and spirits, the most common being brandy, cognac, rum, sherry, whisk(e)y, or bourbon. However, in different countries they will probably use the spirit that’s most widely available and popular there.
When Do You Drink Egg Nog?
Egg Nog is traditionally drunk over the holiday season in the USA, Canada, the UK, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, and some other European countries. In the USA, sales are at their peak from Thanksgiving through to Christmas, although of course you can drink it all year round, if you like it. Why restrict yourself to the holiday season?
How Long Does Egg Nog Keep?
Because it has fresh ingredients, any bottle of egg nog should have a use-by date on it. This can often be a long date as the ingredients will remain reasonably fresh and taste good provided the bottle remains sealed and they don’t come into contact with oxygen.
Once the bottle is opened, however, you should keep it refrigerated, just as you would milk or cream. There are various estimates as to how long it will stay fresh, but it depends on the exact make-up of ingredients. You should certainly try to drink it as soon as possible, but it will probably be OK up to about two weeks. You don’t just have to drink it, though. You could use it in cooking too, like making mini cheesecakes (recipe link below).
Which Egg Nog Should I Buy for Christmas?
Pennsylvania Dutch Egg Nog has been called America’s favorite egg nog, and it’s certainly one of the most widely available. You’ll see it on shelves everywhere, including chains like Total Wine and Safeway. When you see its ingredients, you’ll understand why it’s so popular, because as well as real dairy cream, fresh eggs and spices, it uses not one spirit but three: rum, brandy, and blended whiskey.
How Alcoholic is Egg Nog?
Pennsylvania Dutch Egg Nog is bottled at 14.75% ABV (29.5 proof), so it’s like a very strong wine or almost as strong as a sherry. It’s very more-ish so it would be easy to end up with a hangover if you drank too much, but on the other hand its incredibly rich flavor means you don’t want to drink too much of it at one sitting.
What to Do with Leftover Egg Nog?
If you don’t finish the bottle when you open it, you can store it in the fridge, like I said above. However, you might also want to use it up in baking. The Pennsylvania Dutch Egg Nog people recommend making mini egg nog cheesecakes, which both look and sound totally delicious. They could be a sensational way to wind up that Christmas dinner… served with a glass of egg nog, of course! Click here for the recipe.
Pennsylvania Dutch
You can find out more about Pennsylvania Dutch Egg Nog on their website. They’re also the people behind the excellent Union Forge Vodka, which I reviewed recently, so read that review too for the interesting company history. They have other cream liqueurs suitable for the holidays, including Pumpkin Spice, Salted Caramel, Strawberries and Cream, and Peppermint Bark.
Pennsylvania Dutch
You can find out more about Pennsylvania Dutch Egg Nog on their website. They’re also the people behind the excellent Union Forge Vodka, which I reviewed recently, so read that review too for the interesting company history. They have other cream liqueurs suitable for the holidays, including Pumpkin Spice, Salted Caramel, Strawberries and Cream, and Peppermint Bark.
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