You must have heard of a Whiskey Sour, or tasted one. It is probably the most popular cocktail with egg in it. It does not end there, in fact it begins. There is a whole tradition of cocktails with eggs and you can actually make them yourself. Either use the egg white to make the drink thicker, or the egg yolk to have a custard-like texture, or the entire egg emulsified with dry shaking.
Pioneering bartenders who first experimented eggs with alcohol are Jerry Thomas and Henry C. Ramos in the 19th century. Eggs softened harsh flavours and created a luxurious foam while adding nutrients. Along with Whiskey Sour, there is the Ramos Gin Fizz, concocted in New Orleans in 1888. It is known for requiring 12 minutes of vigorous shaking, which led Ramos to even hire shaker boys.
From then, this combination has evolved and today we have a whole range of cocktails which continue to experiment with eggs in their own ways.
Eggnog
This is a rich, creamy drink made of an egg milk punch along with spirits like rum, brandy, bourbon and whiskey. While the recipe originates from 17-century Britain, where a hot, medicinal spiced-ale drink called posset was made, it was then adopted by Americans by using whiskey and rum instead of ale.
To make an eggnog, start by whisking the egg yolk and sugar together in a small bowl. Combine cream, milk, salt and nutmeg in a bowl on medium-high heat until it starts to simmer. Add small portions of this hot mixture to the egg yolk. With every pour, stir the mixture until you pour the entire mixture. Keep the flame on as it thickens further. Then, remove it from the heat, add vanilla and refrigerate the mixture.
Choose a strong alcohol to balance the sweetness of the eggnog, like brandy, rum, bourbon or whisky and add it to the chilled mixture. Voila, your eggnog is ready.
Golden Fizz
The Golden Fizz is a vintage cocktail with gin or vodka, lemon juice, sugar and club soda mixed with raw egg yolk. It is a gorgeous yellow drink, hence the name, and the creaminess from the egg and the bubbles from the soda complement each other well.
To prepare it, first shake the egg yolk with gin, lemon and simple syrup. This helps the yolk to fully break down and blend with the other liquids. Once the first shake is done, add ice after it and give it another rigorous shake. Strain the liquid, and get a smooth, golden fizz.
Tom and Jerry
This drink came before the cartoon. The invention of it is generally credited to British journalist Pierce Egan in the 1820s, who had written a book Life in London in which the main characters are named Tom and Jerry. Apparently, the name of the cartoon draws inspiration from this drink.
This Christmas-time cocktail is from the United States and is a close relative of the eggnog. For the batter you would need eggs, sugar, brandy, dark rum, ground nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. For the drink, in addition to this batter you would need brandy, dark rum, hot milk and ground nutmeg.
To prepare the batter, beat the egg white and the egg yolks in separate bowls. Then add sugar to the egg yolks and continue the beating. Now mix in the brandy, dark rum and spices into the egg yolk mixture. Now fold the egg whites into the egg yolk mixture. Add this batter in a mug, pour in the brandy and dark rum, top it with hot milk and stir the mixture well. Garnish it with a sprinkle of ground nutmeg.
Pisco Sour
This is a cocktail of Peruvian origin, which is traditionally made with Pisco or Peruvian brandy. It is often attributed to the American bartender in the early 1920s Victor Vaughen Morris, who had moved to Peru in 1903. This is often considered a South American classic.
To make this you would need the Pisco puro, simple syrup, lime juice, 1 egg white, and 2 drops of Angostura bitters. Blend together all elements except the bitters, pour it into a glass and use the bitters for garnishing. If you have a cocktail shaker, shake the ingredients once without ice and then with it.
Clover Club
This is a shaken cocktail which combines gin, lemon juice, raspberry syrup, and egg white. You need to add all the ingredients to an empty shaker and dry shake it vigorously for 20-30 seconds. Then add the ice and shake it again for 10-15 seconds. Strain it, and the clover club is ready to drink.
This drink originates in the 1800s, named after the prestigious Philadelphia men’s club that gathered at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel. The cocktail has a striking pink appearance, and a balanced flavour profile.
FAQs
1. Why are eggs used in cocktails?
Eggs add a smooth, velvety texture and create the signature frothy foam seen in cocktails like the Whiskey Sour and Pisco Sour. Egg yolks also contribute richness and a custard-like consistency.
2. Are egg cocktails safe to drink?
Egg cocktails are generally safe when made with fresh, properly refrigerated eggs. Many bartenders also use pasteurised eggs to minimise the risk of foodborne illness.
3. Which cocktail is the most famous egg-based drink?
The Whiskey Sour is arguably the world's most famous egg cocktail, especially when prepared with egg white for its characteristic silky foam.
4. What's the difference between Eggnog and Tom and Jerry?
Eggnog is a chilled or room-temperature creamy milk punch, while Tom and Jerry is a warm holiday cocktail served with hot milk and a spiced egg batter.
5. Which cocktails use egg whites instead of egg yolks?
Cocktails such as the Whiskey Sour, Pisco Sour, and Clover Club traditionally use egg whites to produce a smooth texture and thick foam.
