Ultimate Holiday Nog
It’s that time of year … IT’S NOG SEASON!
I’m giving you two options here for making your Nog for Christmas or New Year’s Eve/Day.
The first option uses whole eggs that are not cooked or pasteurized so you’ll need to age the nog in the fridge for 3-4 weeks to be sure that the alcohol, dairy fat, and sugar has had an opportunity to take care of any bugs (aka salmonella) that could be in your eggs.
The likelihood of salmonella is quite low to begin with, but its not zero when working with raw eggs. The longer you age the nog the better. And after 4 weeks, studies have shown that if there was salmonella in your eggs it will almost assuredly be inoculated by that combination of alcohol, dairy fat, and sugar after 4 weeks. Again, nothing is 100% unless your eggs are pasteurized, but 4 weeks should do it. Also, fun fact … once you bottle and seal this version, you can age it for up to 2 years in your fridge. It remains safe and stable for that long if it remains tightly sealed. Pretty wild, right? One last note on this … you absolutely CAN serve before aging 3-4 weeks. It would just be considered a “raw” eggnog. Many bars and restaurants do this with made to order eggnog drinks. Just be aware that the risk is higher (while still being very very low) for salmonella.
The second option is to use liquid whole eggs that have been pasteurized. Almost all liquid whole eggs that you can buy in the refrigerated section of your grocery store have been pasteurized. If they are, it will clearly say “pasteurized” on the container. And make sure that you are buying liquid eggs that contain only whole eggs and citric acid to maintain freshness. I recommend Vital Farms brand but there are plenty of other brands that are readily available.
My 2025 Ultimate Holiday Nog made with raw eggs and will be aged 5 weeks
Ultimate Holiday Nog (raw eggs, aged 4 weeks)
Ingredients:
7 large eggs
5.25 oz Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye (or your preferred whiskey at or above 100 proof)
2.75 oz Smith & Cross Navy Strength rum (or your preferred rum at or above 100 proof)
2.75 oz Armagnac or Cognac (your preferred choice at anywhere between 80 to 100 proof)
2.75 oz Lustau Palo Cortado Peninsula Sherry
14.25 oz whole milk
14.25 oz heavy cream
10.5 oz (by weight) turbinado sugar
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Method:
Whisk eggs until light in color and slightly aerated.
Slowly beat in the sugar until silky and fully dissolved.
Add milk and cream in stages, whisking to blend.
Stir in the whiskey, rum, Armagnac, and Palo Cortado until uniform.
Bottle and store in fridge for 4 weeks before serving.
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Single serve:
Pour 3-4 ounces of chilled nog into a glass (over ice is optional) and lightly grate fresh nutmeg over the top. Enjoy!
Ultimate Holiday Nog (pasteurized eggs, aged 1 week)
Ingredients:
15.25 oz Whole Milk
15.25 oz Heavy Cream
8.5 oz liquid whole eggs (pasteurized)
11.25 oz turbinado sugar
5.5 oz Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye (or your preferred whiskey at or above 100 proof)
2.75 oz Smith & Cross Navy Strength Rum (or your preferred rum at or above 100 proof)
2.75 oz Armagnac or Cognac (your preferred choice at anywhere between 80 to 100 proof)
2.75 oz Lustau Palo Cortado Penninsula Sherry
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Method:
1. Dissolve the sugar
Warm 4oz of the milk over very low heat (30 sec)
Add 11.25 oz sugar
Stir over very low heat until fully dissolved and forms a smooth thick syrup, allow to cool before adding to dairy and eggs in step 3.
2. Combine dairy + eggs
In a large mixing bowl or pitcher:
Add 8.50 oz eggs
Add remaining 11.25 oz milk
Add 15.25 oz cream
Whisk briefly until smooth
3. Add the sugar syrup
Whisk in the cooled sugar syrup gently until completely incorporated.
4. Add the spirits (in this order)
Add slowly with gentle whisking:
Bourbon × rye (5.5 oz)
Armagnac/Cognac (2,75 oz)
Palo Cortado (2.75 oz)
Smith & Cross (2.75 oz)
This order gives the cleanest integration.
5. Rest the mixture
Refrigerate 30 minutes to let micro-foam settle.
6. Bottle
Fill:
Two 750 ml bottles,
Cap tightly
You’ll have ~100 ml leftover as your “cook’s pour.”
7. Age
Refrigerate for 6-7 days.
This is peak integration for this custard-style nog.
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Single serve:
Pour 3-4 ounces of chilled nog into a glass (over ice is optional) and lightly grate fresh nutmeg over the top. Enjoy!
