Tom Bullock’s eggnog

Ray Burks explains the history of Tom Bullock's famous eggnog recipe and his book, The Ideal Bartender

Source: © Shutterstock / Royal Society of Chemistry

Raychelle Burks demonstrates how to make a classic festive cocktail – and dives into the intriguing history of a famous mixologist

Like its medieval British beverage antecedent the posset, eggnog recipes vary on many factors including time, place, and popular ingredients. Early recipes for boozy versions of eggy potables featured ale, winesherry, and brandy  with rum  or bourbon  often popping up in American recipes. A quintessential US eggnog recipe can be found in the 1917 book The Ideal Bartender, written by libation legend Tom Bullock – the first Black American to publish a cocktail guide, and one with some intriguing presidential connections. Watch the video to find out more.