Theo Nash
The Tom and Jerry is a traditional Christmas-time cocktail in the United States. It is a variant of eggnog with brandy, rum, or cognac added and served hot, usually in a mug or a bowl. The drink was created by British writer and boxing journalist Pierce Egan in the 1820s to promote his book, *Life in London*, and the subsequent stage play, *Tom and Jerry*, which were released in 1821. The drink was a hit and soon became a Christmastime tradition in the United States, particularly in the Midwest.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | Rum, Cognac, Brandy |
| Rum type | Dark rum, Spiced rum, Jamaican rum |
| Brandy type | Ginger brandy |
| Other ingredients | Eggs, Butter, Sugar, Milk, Water, Cream of tartar, Vanilla extract, Cinnamon, Cloves, Nutmeg |
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Brandy
The cocktail is made with a combination of spirits and hot milk, whisked with a batter of eggs, butter, sugar, and spices. The traditional serving vessel is a ceramic bowl with matching monogrammed mugs, though glass mugs and a mixing bowl can also be used.
There are many different kinds of brandy that can be used in a Tom and Jerry cocktail. These include:
- Flavoured brandies like apple or pear
- VS/VSOP brandies
- Cognac or Armagnac
- Ginger brandy
The brandy can be combined with hot milk, hot water, or eggnog, and spiced with cloves, nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon. The drink can be made creamier by adding more hot milk.
The Tom and Jerry cocktail is a time-consuming process, but the end result is well worth it. It is a delicious, warming, and festive drink, perfect for the holiday season.
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Rum
The Tom and Jerry is a traditional Christmas-time cocktail in the United States, a variant of eggnog with rum and brandy added and served hot, usually in a mug or a bowl. The drink is a twist on the traditional eggnog, served with brandy and rum, and served hot. The drink's name is a reference to Pierce Egan's book, "Life in London, or The Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn Esq. and his Elegant Friend Corinthian Tom" (1821), and the subsequent stage play, "Tom and Jerry, or Life in London" (1821). To publicise the book and the play, Egan introduced a variation of eggnog by adding brandy, calling it a "Tom and Jerry".
The drink is prepared by adding one tablespoon of Tom and Jerry batter, 1.5 ounces of aged rum, and 4 ounces of hot milk to a coffee mug. It is then mixed well, stirring to allow the batter to melt into the milk. Fresh nutmeg can be grated on top. The Tom and Jerry batter is a sweetly-spiced thick, creamy mixture that's served mixed with rum and milk as a kind of warm Christmas punch. The batter is made by separating egg yolks from egg whites and putting them in two separate bowls. Cream of tartar is added to the bowl of egg whites and beaten until stiff peaks have formed. In the other bowl, beat the egg yolks, sugar, and butter until thickened, then add the remaining ingredients of vanilla extract, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and rum. The stiff egg whites are then gently folded into the mixture. The batter should be refrigerated when not in use and consumed the same day.
The Tom and Jerry drink is a recipe for a cosy winter cocktail with warm spices that's perfect for Christmas. It is similar to eggnog but is served warm and is not as heavy. The warm cognac and rum warm you up inside, and the batter has little grains of sugar that melt on your tongue. The drink is also customizable, as you can use dark rum, spiced rum, brandy, or whiskey.
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Cognac
The Tom and Jerry cocktail is a holiday favourite, usually consumed during Christmas. The drink is a warm, spicy, rum-based cocktail that goes back to England in the 1820s. It is similar to a warm sugar cookie melting in your mouth or a warm, frothy, foamy milk punch, akin to eggnog.
The cocktail consists of a batter made from stiffly beaten egg whites, with egg yolks, butter, sugar, nutmeg, cloves, vanilla, and cinnamon folded back in. The batter can be frozen or kept in the refrigerator for several weeks. The batter is added to a mug, and then alcohol and warm milk are incorporated. The alcohol used in this drink is typically dark rum, but cognac is also a great alternative.
To make a Tom and Jerry cocktail with cognac, start by preparing the batter. Separate the egg whites and yolks, and beat them separately until stiff peaks form. In a separate bowl, combine the egg yolks with sugar, butter, vanilla extract, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Fold the stiff egg whites into this mixture to create the batter. Store the batter in the refrigerator until you are ready to make the drinks.
When you are ready to serve, warm a mug by rinsing it with boiling water, then discarding the water. Add two ounces of cognac, followed by a splash of hot whole milk. Finally, add a heaping tablespoon of the prepared batter and stir until combined. Garnish with a cinnamon stick or a sprinkle of nutmeg, if desired.
The Tom and Jerry cocktail is a rich and indulgent holiday treat, perfect for cold winter evenings. The combination of cognac, warm spices, and creamy texture creates a delightful drinking experience that is sure to impress your guests.
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Bourbon
The Tom and Jerry is a classic holiday cocktail that is often compared to eggnog. It is made with eggs, butter, spices, milk, and sugar. The drink is usually prepared by first creating a batter with the above ingredients and then whisking a small amount of the batter with some spirits and hot milk in a mug to create a warm, frothy drink.
While the traditional Tom and Jerry cocktail is made with rum and brandy, bourbon is a great alternative spirit to use. Bourbon is a nice replacement for the traditional spirits as it cuts through the sweetness of the drink. A Tom and Jerry cocktail can be made with 2 oz of bourbon, 3/4 oz of simple syrup, and hot milk to taste. The drink can be topped with grated nutmeg to add a nice spice to the cocktail.
The type of bourbon used is also a matter of preference. A good-quality bourbon is recommended to enhance the flavour of the cocktail. Additionally, the batter can be made ahead of time and refrigerated or frozen until it is time to make the cocktail. This makes the Tom and Jerry a great option for holiday gatherings as it can be prepared in advance and easily scaled up for a large group.
The Tom and Jerry cocktail has a long history, dating back to the 1800s. It was originally created as a publicity stunt by writer Pierce Egan to promote the stage adaptation of his book, "Tom and Jerry, or Life in London". The addition of brandy to a traditional eggnog recipe helped to popularise the drink, and it has since become a holiday favourite for many.
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Dark rum
The Tom and Jerry is a traditional Christmas-time cocktail in the United States. It is a variant of eggnog with rum and brandy added and served hot, usually in a mug or a bowl. The drink is similar to a warm sugar cookie, melting effortlessly in your mouth.
The drink is made by first separating egg yolks from egg whites and putting them in two separate bowls. Next, add cream of tartar to the bowl of egg whites and beat until stiff peaks have formed. In the other bowl, beat the egg yolks, sugar, and a stick of butter until thickened, then add the remaining ingredients of vanilla extract, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and rum. Gently fold the stiff egg whites into the mixture. Cover and store your batter in the refrigerator until it is time to make the drinks. Preferably within a few hours.
To make the cocktail, rinse a small coffee mug or white ceramic Tom and Jerry cup with boiling water to warm it, then discard the water. Add the rum, cognac, and batter into the cup and top with hot milk. Garnish with a mixture of two parts freshly grated nutmeg to one part each of ground clove and ground allspice.
When making the Tom and Jerry, you can use dark rum, such as Jamaican dark rum, or Bryant's Gosling's Dark Rum.
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Frequently asked questions
The alcohol used in a Tom and Jerry is typically rum, cognac, or brandy.
A Tom and Jerry is a traditional Christmas-time cocktail in the United States. It is a variation of eggnog with added alcohol and served hot.
The Tom and Jerry cocktail was originally a publicity stunt devised by British journalist Pierce Egan to coincide with the 1821 release of his book, *Life in London, or The Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn Esq. and his Elegant Friend Corinthian Tom*, and the subsequent stage play of the same name.
The batter is made with eggs, butter, sugar, nutmeg, cloves, vanilla, and cinnamon.
For a non-alcoholic version, you can skip the rum in the batter and when mixing the drink. It can be served with hot cocoa, warm milk, or eggnog.
