Classic Cocktail of The Month: Milk Punch

Following the trend of December's "Winter Warmers" blog post,  this month's Classic Cocktail of The Month is the Milk Punch.

The Milk Punch is really four cocktails: Milk Punch, Hot Milk Punch, Manhattan Milk Punch, and Egg Milk Punch.  First published in Jerry Thomas' 1862 Bartenders Guide, the Milk Punch is a great holiday cocktail in any one of its four forms.

Milk Punch
- 1 oz Cognac or Brandy
- 0.5 oz Dark Rum (Santa Cruz Rum is specified)
- 4 oz Whole Milk
- 1 Tea Spoon Sugar

- Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker
- Add ice and shake
- Double Strain into chilled glass
- Garnish with fresh grated nutmeg

Manhattan Milk Punch
- 1 oz Cognac or Brandy

- 0.5 oz Dark Rum (Santa Cruz Rum is specified)

- 5 Dashes Aromatic Tincture (Or 3 Dashes Bitter Truth Aromatic Bitters)

- 4 oz Whole Milk

- 1 Tea Spoon Sugar

- Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker

- Add ice and shake

- Double Strain into chilled glass

- Garnish with fresh grated nutmeg

Hot Milk Punch
- 1 oz Cognac or Brandy

- 0.5 oz Dark Rum (Santa Cruz Rum is specified)

- 4 oz Hot Whole Milk

- 1 Tea Spoon Sugar

- Add Cognac, Rum, and sugar to warmed tea cup

- Add hot whole milk to tea cup

- Stir to dissolve sugar, and mix ingredients

- Garnish with Fresh Grated Nutmeg

Egg Milk Punch

- 1 oz Cognac or Brandy

- 0.5 oz Dark Rum (Santa Cruz Rum is specified)

- 4 oz Whole Milk

- 1 Tea Spoon Sugar

- 1 Whole Egg

- Add egg to cocktail shaker

- Add all remaining ingredients to cocktail shaker

- Add ice and shake

- Double Strain into chilled glass

- Garnish with fresh grated nutmeg

As you can see, none of the variations are vastly different; the alteration of only one ingredients results in an entirely different name for the cocktail.  My variation hasn't strayed too far from the original either. Although it does has enough diversity to separate it from the original four recipes.

Navy Milk Punch
- 1 oz 151 Over Proof Rum
- 0.5 Amaretto
- 4 oz Whole Milk
- 0.25 oz Honey Cinnamon Syrup

- Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker

- Add ice and shake

- Double Strain into chilled glass

- Garnish with fresh grated cinnamon

With four ounces of whole milk in each cocktail, these are by no means potent drinks.  Therefore, feel free to adjust the amount of any ingredient to your liking; and remember, that applies for any cocktail recipe.

Thanks for visiting, I hope you find a recipe that takes from interest.  Be sure to follow me on twitter @Spirit_Imbibing to get instant updates regarding blog posts and other interesting news and stories in the spirit and cocktail world.

Honey Cinnamon Syrup*

- 1 Cup Honey

- 3/4 Cup Water

- 10 Cinnamon Sticks

- Add all ingredients to sauce pan over medium heat

- Constantly stir to achieve an even consistency

- After approximately 10 minutes over medium heat remove pan from heat

- Allow Syrup to cool

- Remove cinnamon sticks from syrup

- Bottle and store at room temperature