LCBO Food & Drink Holiday 2019

CREAMY COCKTAILS

Classic Eggnog A centuries-old drink that has become a staple of the winter season, eggnog comes in many variations .

Separate 4 large organic eggs. Set aside the whites. In a blender, or using a whisk, whip the yolks well. Add ¾ cup (175 mL) sugar, 1 tsp (5 mL) nutmeg, ⅛ tsp (0.5 mL) allspice, Basic recipe (500 mL) milk or cream (or 1 cup/250 mL each). Blend or whip well, about 2 minutes. Cover and chill, preferably overnight, to steep the flavours. Before serving, whip the egg whites into peaks, then fold into the liquid. This adds an incredible texture to the final drink. clove and cinnamon (to taste) and 2 cups

History While the origin of the name “eggnog” is still hotly debated, the drink is probably derived from a 13th-century warmed concoction of eggs, spices and spirits called a posset, created by monks as an after-dinner custard. It evolved over the next 100 years into a celebratory drink for the wealthy in Europe, as the ingredients were expensive and exclusive. By the 1700s, it had become a popular holiday sipper in North America. There were plenty of cows and chickens, so the drink was available to everyone. As rum was widely available, it was the spirit of choice, but as rum became scarce and bourbon production increased, many recipes substituted whisky as the preferred cocktail base.

Which spirit to use? Eggnog cocktails can be made with any number of spirits. The classics include rum or flavoured rum, which are popular for their sweet and mild notes, bourbon or brandy. For a drink with more of a kick, try a nutty liqueur such as amaretto or Frangelico ( LCBO 169441, $29.40), or an oloroso sherry, or add the coffee notes of Kahlúa ( LCBO 10213, $29.95) or Tia Maria ( LCBO 630913, $29.20). Once you have your basic recipe, you can select your desired spirit, and mix with the eggnog over ice. Or pour the entire batch into a punch bowl combined with 4 to 6 oz of your favourite spirit, stir to mix, and serve with ice in punch cups. Grated nutmeg makes a perfect garnish.

Canadian Concoction For a distinctively Canadian feel, we make the recipe above then mix 1 oz J.P. Wiser’s deluxe whisky ( LCBO 893, $28.95), ⁄ oz Sortilege ( LCBO 250134, $33.25) and 4 oz eggnog over ice, and garnish with a skewer of frozen cranberries.

While some hosts serve eggnog as a dessert, we prefer the afternoon soirée, with small punch glasses of eggnog. Because it is rich and sweet, we pair the drink with gingerbread cookies, carrot cake and pecan butter cookies, with a focus on their more savoury and spicy flavours to balance the sweetness of the drink. Throw an eggnog party

SPICES PHOTO ©ISTOCK.COM/IGORDUTINA

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HOLIDAY 2019 FOOD & DRINK