Happy Friday once again! I hope those that are playing are still alive in the Little Drummer Boy Challenge! I somehow am after a weekend away in New York. Speaking of holiday type things, now that we’re knee deep in the Holidays (haus Sharkbait is in the process of getting decorated to the max) I went looking for seasonal drinks that would help add some kick to the season. I found a few good ones that I’m looking to work in the mix in the next couple weeks, so that will be fun to look forward to. This week, I’m keeping it simple, and re-visiting an older cocktail (from 2020), and changing it up a little. I’m making another Flip from the Waldorf Astoria Cocktail book!

The beauty of this particular recipe is the fact that you can basically use any base spirit you you want. In the 2020 version I used bourbon, and for this iteration, I chose to use white rum. I thought rum would be a somewhat festive cocktail, somewhere in between spiked eggnog and buttered rum. As a refresher, here is the recipe from the book:

2oz. Spirit or fortified wine of your choice

1 Whole egg

.5 oz simple syrup

Add whole egg and syrup to mixing glass. Dry shake for 5 seconds. Add spirit or wine of choice and ice. Shake well for 10 seconds. Fine strain into a small wine glass or goblet. Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg. 

The nose is slightly tilted toward the nutmeg, with a few whiffs of rum mixed in there. I definitely held back a bit on the nutmeg this time around, which I think was a more prudent move. The aroma (and flavor) doesn’t take over, and acts more as a background player. Which I prefer. Nutmeg can easily overpower and ruin whatever you’re using it on.

As to the taste? This is fantastic. Very reminiscent of eggnog, just like the last time I made it. However there is one key difference: the rum flavor is not nearly as pronounced as the bourbon in the bourbon flip. This tastes Like regular eggnog up front: rich, creamy and with a good mouth feel. The rum does eventually comes through, about midway through the sip you can definitely tell there is booze in this. While you can now taste the rum, it doesn’t dominate at all. I think the white rum was a great call (as opposed to a spiced or dark rum). The milder flavor works well in this presentation. If you wanted to kick it up a notch, you could do overproof white rum, but again, I think that would be too much for this application and throw the balance off, and it would be less than enjoyable.

Go forth and make some flips if you don’t feel like breaking out (or making) eggnog for fun holiday activities.

(Banner image courtesy Matthew Tetrault Photography)