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Holiday Bourbon Eggnog Cocktail Recipe

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Bourbon Eggnog | Indulge this holiday season with this simple but delightful bourbon eggnog cocktail. If you're a fan of eggnog then this easy holiday drink is the perfect match whether you're hosting a holiday party or relaxing in the glow of lights from the Christmas tree.

Eggnog in glasses rimmed with sugar and cinnamon with a cinnamon stick as garnish.
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Eggnog is my ultimate cozy feeling inducing treat during the holiday season. If you feel the same then you'll love this bourbon cocktail. 

Rich and creamy eggnog is either blended or shaken with your favorite bourbon whiskey for a well combined cocktail. You can use any type of jar with a lid that you have around. You can also use an electric frother to mix the two together.

Serve this on top of ice in a glass garnished with cinnamon sugar for a pretty look and a sweet spiced addition. You can froth some eggnog or your favorite cream for an extra creamy drink. 

Top with freshly grated nutmeg (in a pinch use ground nutmeg) and cinnamon sticks for extra holiday flavors and the perfect holiday cocktail!

Save this easy bourbon eggnog recipe for your holiday parties this year. A few sips of this holiday indulgence and you'll be full of holiday spirit.

Serve some sweet and spicy chex mix on the side for snacks.

Eggnog in a glass rimmed with sugar and cinnamon with a cinnamon stick as garnish.

Ingredients

See the recipe card for exact amounts.

  • Eggnog: I use extra creamy eggnog. It froths nicely with an electric frother. You can use regular eggnog.
  • bourbon: use your favorite Kentucky Bourbon. Right now mine is Larceny. A few of my other favorite bourbons are Bulleit, Evan Williams, and Knob Creek.
  • cinnamon sugar rim: this is a mix of sugar and cinnamon in a 2 to 1 ratio. You can leave it just as a garnish or have a little bit of it with every sip. It gives a spice and sweet kind of crunch - it takes it up a notch and makes the perfect drink. You can decorate only half of the glass if you'd rather not taste the cinnamon sugar but still want the look.

Substitutions

  • eggnog: try a vegan store-bought eggnog product. 
  • type of whiskey: we also like this with a Canadian whisky like Crown Royal.
  • alcohol: try a dark rum or spiced rum instead. 

Instructions

Prep Tips

  • Mix the cinnamon and sugar together.
  • Have ice ready.

I like the ratio of 2 ounces of bourbon to 5 ounces of eggnog. 

This makes a stronger cocktail. A really boozy eggnog. You might like a different ratio. 

To make a milder version use 1 ounce of bourbon instead. 

Syrup is applied to the rim of a glass with a small wood spoon.
  1. Wet the rim of your cocktail glass with water, simple syrup, or my gingerbread syrup (my preference!)
A glass is stamped into cinnamon and sugar to rim it.
  1. Roll the glass in the cinnamon sugar.
Eggnog is poured into a glass jar that has ice and bourbon in it.
  1. For a shaken cocktail, add ice, bourbon, and eggnog to a jar with a lid.
Eggnog and bourbon are shaken together in a glass jar with a lid.
  1. Shake for 30 seconds or so.

For a stirred cocktail, add the ice, bourbon, and then eggnog to the rimmed glass. Use an electric frother to bring the bourbon and eggnog together. Or simply stir it.

Eggnog is poured into a glass rimmed with cinnamon sugar.
  1. Add ice to a glass and pour in the shaken cocktail.
Eggnog is frothed with an electric frother.
  1. You can froth eggnog or heavy cream (oat creamer works well!) 
Frothed eggnog is poured on top of a bourbon eggnog cocktail in a glass rimmed with cinnamon sugar.
  1. Add the frothed eggnog or whipped cream on top of the drink.
Nutmeg is grated on top of a bourbon eggnog cocktail in a glass rimmed with cinnamon sugar.
  1. Grate fresh nutmeg over top.

Add a cinnamon stick for a festive garnish and cozy aroma.

Serve cold.

Eggnog in glasses rimmed with sugar and cinnamon with a cinnamon stick as garnish.

Note: You can also make your own eggnog for a more homemade version and add bourbon to that. When it comes to raw eggs, I prefer to make my spiked eggnog with store-bought eggnog. Choose whatever seems right for you.

Tips for making this cocktail

  • Shaken or stirred: this is key to a well combined cocktail. Bourbon and eggnog don't want to mix together easily. Shaking in a lid with a jar, or using an electric frother helps to fully incorporate the two together. You can also simply stir it.
  • extra creamy: I like using extra Creamy Eggnog in this recipe for a super creamy drink that stays creamy even over ice.
  • garnished: bourbon and eggnog just by themselves already make a great drink, but adding a little cinnamon sugar garnish makes it feel special, more like a festive cocktail. Perfect for Christmas movie night, wistfully listening to Christmas music in the dim glow of Christmas lights, and for a big Christmas party. My grocery store and bulk store both sell cinnamon sticks at pretty good prices. Adding a cinnamon stick ups the cozy factor and guests can use it as a stirrer.
  • frothy topping: I like to froth some oat creamer or creamy eggnog to top this drink. You can also whip heavy cream to soft peaks and use that instead.
  • ice: large ice cubes melt slower and keep the drink from getting watered down.

What to serve with bourbon eggnog

This drink is perfect for Christmas parties or festive evenings at home. Try serving it with something sweet like gingerbread biscotti, or something savory like Chex Mix.

Storage

Make this drink as needed. You can mix a large batch in a pitcher for groups. Mix with a whisk to combine well.

Eggnog in a glass rimmed with sugar and cinnamon with a cinnamon stick as garnish.

FAQs

Can I use something other than bourbon for this cocktail?

Sure! Try Canadian whiskey or dark rum instead of the bourbon.

Recipe

Eggnog in a glass rimmed with sugar and cinnamon with a cinnamon stick as garnish.

Bourbon Eggnog Cocktail

author : Jacqueline Piper
5 from 2 votes
This simple cocktail is made with just two ingredients - bourbon and eggnog. Optional garnishes are listed for even more festive flair.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 1

Equipment

Ingredients
 
 

For the Drink

  • 2 oz Bourbon (I like Larceny Kentucky Bourbon)
  • 5 oz eggnog

For the Rim

To Garnish

  • 2 tablespoons frothed eggnog (optional)
  • ground nutmeg (optional)
  • 1 cinnamon stick (optional)

Instructions
 

For the rim

  • To rim the glass, coat the rim in water, simple syrup, or my gingerbread syrup recipe. I find syrup works the best.
  • Combine the sugar and cinnamon on a plate. Stamp and roll the rim of the glass in the cinnamon sugar to coat it.

For the drink

  • In a jar, combine the ice, bourbon, and eggnog. Shake well for about 30 seconds.
  • To serve, add ice to the rimmed glass and pour the contents of the jar in.

To garnish

  • To garnish the drink further, froth the additional measurement of eggnog with an electric frother. Pour this on top of the drink and add a cinnamon stick.

Video

Notes

Shake it in a jar with a lid. This is key to a well combined cocktail.
I like using extra Creamy Eggnog in this recipe.
Adding a little cinnamon sugar garnish makes it feel special, more like a festive cocktail.
I like to froth some oat creamer or creamy eggnog to top this drink. You can also whip heavy cream to soft peaks and use that instead.
Large ice cubes melt slower and keep the drink from getting watered down.

Nutrition

Calories: 256kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 6gFat: 6gSugar: 11gCalcium: 184mgIron: 0.3mg

Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutritional information is an estimate. Values vary based on products used.

Read our full Nutrition Disclaimer.
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Eggnog in a glass rimmed with sugar and cinnamon with a cinnamon stick as garnish with text for Pinterest.

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