Eggnog: A Colonial Christmas Tradition (Gen. Washington's Recipe)

MyMerryChristmas.com ^ | December, 2005 | Jeff Westover

[Pharmboy]

The General's Eggnog

One quart of cream
One quart of milk
A dozen eggs
One pint of brandy
A half pint of rye
A quarter pint of rum
A quarter pint of sherry

Christmas of 1826 was snowy, cold and lonely for the cadets of West Point. Though called "men" they were really teenage boys -- some as young as 17 -- and they wanted to celebrate Christmas. Young Jefferson Davis, future president of the Confederate States of America, was amongst them.

But West Point then, as it is now, was a house of order and discipline. The military academy was under the strictest orders of sobriety that Christmas season. And being young men some took it upon themselves to challenge those orders in the name of holiday celebration. They organized, they partied -- and then they got caught.

During excused absences the men of West Point would visit area taverns and drink grog -- a mix of alcoholic spirits and spices whose many differing recipes came over from the Old World of England in those post-revolutionary times. But for their clandestine Christmas celebration of 1826 they sought to make eggnog - a creamy mixture of typical grog ingredients combined with milk, cream and eggs. Military tradition had passed down rumors of a fancy for the drink from George Washington himself, whose stiff recipe challenged even the heartiest drinker. It was the seasonal tradition of Christmas in colonial America and for these boys it was a sentimental taste of home.

Carefully they planned their party. The ingredients were brought in under cover of darkness, at varying times and by the hands of several individuals. On Christmas Eve they posted guards to look out for watchful superior officers, blackened their windows and began mixing their eggnog. There party proceeded unnoticed until 4:30 in the morning when the effects of their celebration started to take effect rather noisily. By that point keeping the officers from noticing was impossible. What ensued thereafter has come to be known in legend as the Eggnog Riot. One cadet ended up facing murder charges by the time it was said and done. Six others resigned and 19 others were court martialed. And many, including Jefferson Davis, received the punishment of being confined to quarters for more than a month.

But many, even some of those expelled from the academy, expressed no regret for their involvement in the event. It was after all Christmas. And it was, after all, only eggnog.

Eggnog was one of the most common holiday traditions of Colonial America. Before there were Christmas trees, before there was Santa Claus, and long before there was ever a national holiday called Christmas there was the annual tradition of eggnog.

Eggnog definitely has ties to old England and the time-honored tradition of wassail. Though different from wassail, which used fruits as a base, eggnog's consistent ingredient has always been eggs. But aside from the eggs and milk or cream, eggnog of the 18th century could contain any manner of wine, beer, ale or other spirits. Spices, most notably nutmeg, were also constants.

George Washington's recipe called for one quart of cream, one quart of milk, a dozen eggs, one pint of brandy, a half pint of rye, a quarter pint of rum and a quarter pint of sherry. He was famous, especially after the Revolutionary War, for holding festive Christmas gatherings featuring his unique brand of eggnog.

Eggnog continues to this day as a holiday tradition. Available now in grocery stores as early as mid-October, eggnog is as popular as a non-alcoholic beverage as it once was in its raw form. It has over time become one of the classic flavors of Christmas and has spawned a mini-industry of eggnog-flavored creations from cheese cake to ice cream.

[Pharmboy]

Indeed. Before TV, autos, movies, the Internet, etc., etc., social life centered around getting together in social/family/neighbor gatherings with hospitality the key. And, the women had a lot to do running the household in a very organized fashion.

[Fierce Allegiance]

"One quart of cream
One quart of milk
A dozen eggs
One pint of brandy
A half pint of rye
A quarter pint of rum
A quarter pint of sherry"

HOLY CRAP, that'll give you thre nasty H's - Heart attach, High cholesterol and a Hangover.

[j_tull]

If the several-hundred-thousand to one odds frighten you, use pasteurized-in-the-shell eggs. Available at most mega-marts. I use them in my classic Caesar dressing when the the elderly parents come for dinner.

[Temple Owl]

The guys at the Freeland VFW club in Freeland, Pa., had the best recipe for eggnog that I have ever heard of. It was the Easter treat. They simply took every bottle of booze in the bar that was less than half full, dumped it in to a vat or tub and added the eggnog. It was always delicious and the first drink was always free.
Oh how I miss the late great "Shakes" Lozinak. He was the holder of the eggnog recipe.

[SunkenCiv]

"You don't wanna hear it, but I'll tell you anyway..."

[SunkenCiv]

New Year's Eve started a little early around the General's tent...

[Temple Owl]

ping

[Pharmboy]

He was a man among men. ( :~D

[brewer1516]

Only slightly off topic:
This is Benjamin Franklin's tercentenary (b.1706).

Even though Franklin was more of a wine drinker (or was that Jefferson), he was also quite fond of ale. Hence the famous quote "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy".

That's why there is a national program to celebrate his 300th birthday by brewing Poor Richard's Ale.
http://www.poorrichardsale.com
http://www.benfranklin300.com/news_release.php?id=24

While I have made mead and brewed many an English style ale, I've never tried to brew a historical beer. This sounds like a winner.

[ut1992]

My "better half" and were finalizing the menu for Christmas day, since it's our turn to have the entire family over this year. Our family takes turns hosting Christmas, and thank goodness our turn only comes around every 6 years; the folks and then my four siblings. Unfortunately, every six years the family is bigger then the last time (e.g. new spouses or kids), so this year we will be 18. And since everyone travels to the "designated house" from all corners of the US, there is now potluck....the host has to cook everything (ok, all those who can cook and those who think they can cook setup HQ in the kitchen and "help")....and play "motel" for 3-4 days to as many as the house will hold. Usually all of the kids stay at the "motel" (yikes) to spend time with their cousins....and drive the hosting family up the wall; we made up a rule that they have to be at least 5 years old so there is no midnight runs to the hotels because of separation anxiety. These 3-4 day visits can drive one to drink.

But I digress. While discussing the menu I told of a joke recipe I had received a few years ago from someone in the office. And for the life of me I can't remember how it goes.

If I remember correctly, it was about baking cookies or cake with whiskey and went something like....Open whiskey bottle, take swig to make sure it's smooth, sift flower, take another swig of whiskey to see if the "bouquet" has increased....you get the gist. Have any Freepers heard this joke? If so, can you post it. I've searched the internet to no avail.

We thought we'd play a joke on Mom and have her try to bake this. Mom's getting a bit...well let's say she now driving down the freeway either at 35 or 90...depending on...well we're not sure...if the sun is shining (?)....or swinging 50's tune is playing....haha! She'll probably get to the 3rd or 4th step, and 3rd or 4th shot, before she'll notice it's a joke.

[SunkenCiv]

Note: this topic is from 12/17/2005. Thanks Pharmboy.

[Monkey Face]

Hello, stranger! Somehow, I knew you would be on a thread like this! <3

[LaRueLaDue]

“I’ve seen eggnog recipes before, and the thought of salmonella always scares me.”

Use farm-fresh eggs. Or ones you “grow” on your own. There is no comparison, and they are also more safe...

But, you really think that anything could live in those concentrations of spirits???

[LaRueLaDue]

Wow. Didn’t see that this was that old of an article.....!

[ADemocratNoMore]

I'm partial to Blue Myself. Cheapest at duty free Canada although I hear that it's much less expensive in Fla. due to much lower taxes. Real good & well worth it.

[gleeaikin]

My gosh, how did they avoid scurvy? No wonder the life expectancy was so much lower than today.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Very similar recipe to mine which is a very old Virginia eggnog recipe handed down to me by my FIL.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Never fear, salmonella could never survive the booze. :-)

[afraidfortherepublic]

Attention to this old, but good, topic.
Ping to the Founding Father,Revolutionary War list.

FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this ping list.

[Jimmy Valentine]

Egg nog if made properly is a very good holiday drink. To make it best, after all ingredients are stirred together leave it on the cold back porch overnight. This gives the ingredients time to “ work”. Next morning dust a little nutmeg on top and there you are. Be careful though because it is very smooth and tasty,but powerful!