"If Egg Nog Was Good" Bourbon Milk Punch Cocktail

Name: "If Egg Nog Was Good" Bourbon Milk Punch Cocktail
Prep time: 2 min
Total time: 2 min
Yield: 1
Ingredients: 1/4 cup of good bourbon; 1/4 cup of milk; 2 tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk (I go a little light); 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract; Optional: a sprinkle of cinnamon; Ice cubes (for shaking); Nutmeg for garnish

A few months ago, if anyone had told me I’d be obsessed with a cocktail that includes bourbon and dairy (with the exception of a boozy milkshake), I’d have thought they were crazy.

But here we are…

What is a milk punch?

So apparently “punch” is from the Sanskrit word pañc, which means “five”…five ingredients, in this case. I can neither confirm nor deny but that sounds pretty cool. A milk punch is a classic but flexible cocktail formula: generally including liquor, sweetener, milk and/or cream, and vanilla, usually with a nutmeg garnish. There’s more fascinating milk punch history here.

Apparently we’re in the midst of a milk punch revival. I’d never really heard of them until recently, and then all of the sudden started to notice them on menus. I first tried a clarified milk punch (having a major moment) at George’s Bar in Louisville, and it was amazing! I am, however, too lazy to clarify milk myself…

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A lot of the traditional milk punch recipes I’ve seen include both milk and heavy cream, plus a sugar of some kind (honey, powdered sugar, etc.). The genius of this one is that sweetened condensed milk covers both the sugar and milk/cream bases, and helps the drink feel light but with velvety. Plus who doesn’t have a can of that sitting in your pantry??

I got this particular recipe through work, from the inimitable @jackiezykan (Old Forester’s Master Taster), so I can’t take credit for its awesomeness. I have added a dash of cinnamon on occasion though, which almost takes it into dirty horchata territory.

Pour the ingredients (minus the nutmeg) into a cocktail shaker over several ice cubes. Shake vigorously, for at least 15-20 seconds.

Strain into a glass of your choice (I love the coupe) and garnish with grated nutmeg.

Any good bourbon will work for this, but you definitely want it to be quality and complex—you want something that can stand up to the richness of the sweetened condensed milk.

Something with some sweet aromatic notes like caramel or vanilla, or some spicy notes, can pair perfectly. I’ve used a few different ones including Old Forester 100 proof and Woodford Reserve.

So consider me a convert…this bourbon milk punch is perfect in my mind!

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