How to Spike Eggnog

The holidays bring such warm memories--spending time with family, eating wonderful foods and, of course, drinking eggnog. If you've become a little bored by your eggnog of the past decade, here is a recipe that will teach you to spike your eggnog in a just a few delicious steps.

Things You'll Need

• 2 cups bourbon
• 3/4 cup rum
• 3/4 cup brandy
• 2 vanilla beans (cut in half and seeded)
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 6 cloves
• Bottle or jar for contents
• Nutmeg
• Spice grater
• Eggnog

Instructions

1. Combine brandy, bourbon and rum in the bottle.

2. Remove and discard the seeds from your vanilla beans. Add the vanilla beans to the bottle that already has the alcohol.

3. Add cloves to the alcohol mixture. (Leave them whole.)

4. Grate the equivalent of 2 tsp. nutmeg into the bottle.

5. Add cinnamon sticks to the bottle.

6. Tightly seal the bottle and store for 1 week in a cool, dry place.

7. Spike your eggnog. This is the best step of all. Once you've purchased your eggnog, pour everyone a hearty cup and add one shot of the mixture you've made.

Tips & Warnings

• To really kick this recipe up a notch, pour your eggnog into a bowl and add a few scoops of ice cream. Allow the ice cream to soften before serving and spiking.

Resources

• Epicurious is a great site for all sorts of recipes, including ones for eggnog.
• Gourmet Sleuth has fantastic recipes, including ones for eggnog.