Eggnog: The Untold Story of George Washington’s Drink

Eggnog is far from a modern holiday latte. My favorite drink has its roots that stretch back centuries. This rich, creamy drink started in medieval times, crossed oceans, and is the seasonal symbol of warmth, comfort, and yummy indulgence.

What Is Posset?

This beverage’s earliest ancestor was posset. A thick, comforting hot blend of milk, eggs, and ale or wine once enjoyed in medieval England. Spiced possets were believed to be medicinal, restoring strength and warding off illness. The wealthy enjoyed the drink because milk, eggs, and spices were expensive. A Posset served at a banquet meant you had status. 

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Add a Little Spirit to Your Eggnog

By the 17th century, the British spiked possets with the good stuff — sherry and brandy. (Now we’re talking!) When the tradition hit the American colonies, rum took over. Why? It was dirt cheap, everywhere, and flowing through Caribbean trade routes. Thanks to the Pirates. As for “eggnog”? The name probably comes from “nog”, a strong ale, or “noggin,” those small wooden cups they used for booze.

Colonial America’s Holiday Drink

In colonial America, eggnog became the holiday drink at Christmas and New Year’s. Farms had fresh eggs and milk in spades, and rum cost a fraction of fancy European spirits. The beverage flowed freely at parties and holiday blowouts. Thus cementing its association with winter festivities and conviviality.

An Eggnog Drink Worth a Riot

The Eggnog Riot was real and wild. On Christmas Eve 1826, cadets at West Point defied the Superintendent’s strict alcohol ban by smuggling in gallons of whiskey. Some even rowed across the Hudson River to get it.

Around 70 cadets got hammered on spiked eggnog. They assaulted officers and trashed the North Barracks. Smashed windows, broken furniture, ripped banisters off stairways, the result of a drunken military fest. The Captain tried to break up the party, but cadets wanted nothing of it and grabbed bayonets, muskets, and swords. Someone even fired a pistol.

Future Confederate President Jefferson Davis was there but passed out before the worst of it and avoided a court-martial. Clever boy! In the end, 19 cadets were court-martialed, and 11 were expelled — the most significant mass punishment in West Point’s history at the time.

Colonial-Style Eggnog Recipe

George Washington’s famous eggnog recipe called for an extraordinary amount of spirits. A quart each of cream and milk, a pint of brandy, a half-pint of rye whiskey, a half-pint of rum, and a quarter-pint of sherry. That was not considered a LOT of alcohol for the times. Colonial and 19th-century eggnog was much stronger than today’s versions. They often mixed many spirits rather than just using more rum. Here’s a recipe from the era. I use far less alcohol; I add a little rum to mine.

Ingredients (Serves 6–8)

• 6 large eggs
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 2 cups whole milk 
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ tsp ground nutmeg, plus extra for garnish
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon

If you want to enjoy the extra strong George Washington Style, add:

• 1/2 cup each rum and bourbon,
• 1/4 cup each of brandy, sherry, and rye whiskey

Instructions

1. Separate yolks and whites.
2. Beat yolks with sugar until pale and creamy. I use the electric mixer for this.
3. Fold in milk, cream, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla.
4. Slowly mix in spirits.
5. Whip the egg whites to soft peaks, then fold gently into the yolk mixture for a light, frothy texture.
6. Refrigerate for 1–2 hours before serving. Sprinkle with extra nutmeg just before serving.

Notes

• I like mine hot on a cold day. I heat the yolk-milk mixture gently over low heat until it reaches 160°F, stirring constantly to prevent curdling. Then fold in the whipped whites.

• I also find the whole milk and cream a bit too rich, so I use 2 1/2 cups of low-fat dairy and ½ cup of heavy cream.

Eggnog for All 

Pasteurization and refrigeration made eggnog safer and accessible to everyone. It is now a holiday staple we all look forward to drinking. Nutmeg was once a luxury spice; its addition to the drink echoes eggnog’s aristocratic origins.

Eggnog embodies the spirit of the season. It evokes comfort, coziness, and tradition. Each glass is a reminder of ancient spice routes, colonial kitchens, and centuries of winter celebrations. Tradition and family gatherings never go out of style.

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Note to my readers: My research draws on travel experiences, books, and, sometimes, AI tools. I love using my own photos whenever possible, but occasionally I include stock or AI-generated images to help illustrate the story.