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Cocktail History
The Cousin Eddie’s Irish Eggnog is a Sips From Scripts original cocktail that was created as a spiked version of holiday eggnog. Its inspiration came from an iconic scene in the 1989 film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation in which Clark Griswold and Cousin Eddie enjoy eggnog in the moose mugs. Since their beverage was from the family punch bowl, it probably wasn’t very boozy, but if it were, we like to think it would taste something like this Irish take made with whiskey, eggnog, vanilla, and nutmeg.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Irish Stout Whiskey: This is a type of whiskey made in Ireland with barley, maize, water, and spices that is triple-distilled in beer barrels. We used Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition Irish Whiskey because it features a smooth whiskey flavor with notes of milk chocolate, butterscotch, hops, green apple, and pear. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Spiritless Kentucky 74 Non-Alcoholic Bourbon Whiskey in place of the whiskey.
Eggnog: This is a rich sweetened beverage made with milk, cream, sugar, egg yolk, and whipped egg white. We used Organic Valley Eggnog. For a dairy-free version of this drink, try Califia Farms Limited Edition Almond Milk Holiday Nog in place of the eggnog.
Vanilla Extract: This is a flavoring made with vanilla beans, ethyl alcohol, and water. We used Simply Organic Pure Madagascar Vanilla Extract.
Chocolate Bitters: This is a food product made with chocolate, botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. We used Fee Brothers Aztec Chocolate Bitters.
Grated Nutmeg: This is a spice made from the seed of a nutmeg tree. We used whole nutmeg from the bulk section at our local grocery store.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. We used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.
Grater: This is used to grate spices or citrus peel. We used the OXO Good Grips Grater.
Tasting Notes
The Cousin Eddie’s Irish Eggnog features aromas of nutmeg and Irish whiskey and has a taste that blends the malty, heady eggnog flavor with the spirituousness of dark Irish whiskey rounded out by a hint of chocolate, which is all finished with a rich, sweet eggnog flavor.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: We definitely recommend trying this recipe if you’re craving some spiked nog for the holidays. It is so tasty!
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Though this is little more than eggnog with whiskey in it (and whose uncle didn’t try to make small batches of this every Christmas?), it’s really tasty. The dash of chocolate bitters and the tiny hit of vanilla are the tricks; they add enough additional flavor and sweetness to soften the harshness of the Irish whiskey and make the whole thing extremely palatable.”—
Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Eggnog is another holiday beverage that I didn’t grow up drinking at Christmas, and even though I’ve had it several times in adulthood, I still shy away from it due to its high egg content and overall heaviness. That said, this boozy version Alex dreamed up in honor of one of his family’s favorite Christmas classics is delicious! I really liked the addition of whiskey even though it’s not a spirit I drink often, and the vanilla and chocolate notes were great additions to round out the other flavors. Make this in a moose mug soon, and it just might become a Christmas staple at your house too!”
Recipe
Add eggnog, whiskey, vanilla extract, and chocolate bitters to a lowball glass or moose mug.
Stir for 5-10 seconds.
Garnish with grated nutmeg.
Ingredients
Directions
Add eggnog, whiskey, vanilla extract, and chocolate bitters to a lowball glass or moose mug.
Stir for 5-10 seconds.
Garnish with grated nutmeg.
Make It a Mocktail: Use Spiritless Kentucky 74 Non-Alcoholic Bourbon Whiskey in place of the whiskey to try a booze-free version of this drink.
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More Christmas Cocktails
If you like this holiday-themed cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:
Sugar Cookie Cocktail: A vanilla vodka cocktail made with amaretto, Irish cream liqueur, heavy cream, simple syrup, and sprinkles
Hot Peppermint Patty: A low-proof cocktail made with milk, white peppermint schnapps, dark crème de cacao, white crème de menthe, cocoa powder, whipped cream, and grated chocolate
Candy Cane Martini: A vodka cocktail made with white crème de cacao, white crème de menthe, simple syrup, and crushed candy cane
Cranberry Cobbler: A sherry cocktail made with cranberry syrup, orange slices, an orange wedge, mint, and cranberries
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