The best eggnog ever

The other day, my son Rob handed me one of these and told me to taste.  What I tasted was Christmas- the very best, creamiest, frothiest, most perfectly balanced egg nog that I have ever experienced in my life.  This recipe is definitely for adults- and definitely a once or twice per year drink.


 This is the ingredient list:
3 oz pasteurized eggs
3 oz sugar
6 oz heavy cream
1 oz dark or aged Jamaican rum
1 oz bourbon or rye whiskey
1 oz cognac
freshly grated nutmeg

Here is the visual:

And here is how he measures the ounces:

We used natural pure cane sugar.  If we are going to use sugar, Rob won't have anything but pure cane sugar in the house.

Besides the wonderful symmetry in the measurement of these ingredients, there are three secrets to preparing this drink.  The first is to continuously whisk this mixture as you incorporate the ingredients.  The second is the order in which the ingredients are added to ensure that the mixture doesn't curdle.  The third secret is to 'cure' the ingredients- let them sit a few hours in the refrigerator so that the alcohol has a chance to meld and ensure that the eggs are OK.  We used pasteurized eggs (you can tell them by the P on the shell) but the technique is ancient- George Washington cured the ingredients in his recipe for days.

This is for two double old-fashioned glass servings.

Start with the eggs.  Previously Rob proved to himself that 3 oz of eggs was 2 eggs.

Whisk them until they are yellow and creamy looking like this.

Slowly incorporate the sugar a bit at a time, whisking as you pour.

It now looks like this.  Now add the cream slowly, whisking as you go.

It looks like this.  Now is the time to measure out the brandy, rum, and whiskey.  Add them slowly whisking all the way like the rest.  It might be slightly more important to whisk at this stage to keep the alcohol from cooking the eggs.  Now grate nutmeg to taste and incorporate that too.  Put the whole mixture into the refrigerator for a few hours to cure.  Rob tried one without curing and declared that it was just not as good.

Just before serving, whisk it all up again (the ingredients may separate), pour into glasses and grate fresh nutmeg on top.  Heavenly...