As the Winter Holidays draw ever closer, LocalNomad would like to get you into the spirit of things with a review of the United States favorite Christmas time beverage, Eggnog. Eggnog has been a tried and true American tradition since as long as anyone can remember but seldom know just what are the true origins behind this odd and eccentric drink. That’s why we will be taking you on a tour of the mysterious history behind how this beverage came to be such a cult holiday classic for Americans everywhere.
History of Eggnog
While the exact birthplace of Eggnog is still hotly debated many believe it can be traced as far back as the 14th century. The Medieval Englishmen of the era would have first introduced this hot cocktail under the colloquial name “posset”. This, “egg free” drink typically contained hot milk curdled with ale and wine, and was often sweetened and spiced. Over the years an egg-laden version of the beverage was introduced. Despite its initial popularity among Englishmen it was not a hot commodity due to the scarcity of fresh eggs and milk in the region. The lack of these ingredients drove the price up drastically and the beverage very quickly became something only aristocrats could afford to enjoy.
It wouldn’t be until the founding of the American Colonies that Eggnog would truly see its day. By the turn of the 18th century early settlers and travelers from all over the globe flocked to America, and with the arrival of these immigrants from across the Atlantic came the recipe for “posset” as well. 
Once there it quickly grew in popularity amongst the locals. Only one thing changed, instead of adding wine the Colonials began adding rum due to the ingredients cheap and highly available nature. There is still much debate among the exact etymology of the word Eggnog but it is said that the colonials of the era began calling the mixture egg and grog since the term was commonly used to refer to a drink made with rum. The name stuck and with time was shortened to egg’n’grog and later Eggnog.
Popularity for the beverage grew even further in great part thanks to the Americas flourishing farm industry, which was abundant in livestock and farmland. This meant that now tossing in a few eggs and some milk to make the Eggnog recipe complete was no trouble at all unlike the case had been for the Englishmen. The rest is history, and thus the Eggnog recipe that we know today was born.
Homemade Eggnog Recipe
Today’s Eggnog recipes have many spin offs, tweaks, and minor variations but the original recipe remains simple, tried and true. This viscous thick creamy mixture is essentially just made from eggs, sugar, milk, cream, a dash of nutmeg and alcohol. For those interested in making their own check out LocalNomad´s blog on “How to make Eggnog“.
So if you want to try your hand at making your own bowl of Eggnog and find out what all the fuss is about well here’s your chance. Also, don’t forget to check out some of our luxury accommodations with feelnyc.com if you want a local taste of this classic Christmas beverage in the United States for yourself. Happy Holidays & Enjoy!