Provided by Prince William County Office of Historic Preservation
“One quart cream, one quart milk, one dozen tablespoons sugar, one pint brandy, 1/2 pint rye whiskey, 1/2 pint Jamaica rum, 1/4 pint sherry—mix liquor first, then separate yolks and whites of eggs, add sugar to beaten yolks, mix well. Add milk and cream, slowly beating. Beat whites of eggs until stiff and fold slowly into mixture. Let set in cool place for several days. Taste frequently.” The Old Farmer’s Almanac
With holiday season quickly approaching, many people begin to hunt the stores for Eggnog. This either hated or loved seasonal drink has a very long and storied history. The above “receipt” (18th century word for recipe) is alleged to be George Washington’s very own recipe for Eggnog. (There is no proof that this was indeed his “receipt.”) The recipe was probably from a common cookbook of the time or from a later 19th century cookbook and Washington’s name was added to make it more popular.
Eggnog was very popular in the 18th century and would have been familiar to many Virginians, including the Blackburn Family at Rippon Lodge and the Lee family of Leesylvania. Research indicates that the taste was surprisingly good and with the lack of recipe measurements, still somewhat works over 250 years later. So, if you find yourself being adventuresome, try the recipe!
